Reviews — Dr. Traquair’s Fossil Fis/tes. 
173 
and which is now entirely destroyed by the encroackment of the 
sea ; (4) drifts, including gravel, sand, and loain, some probably of 
Glacial age, wkile otber deposits are classed as Post-Glacial, together 
witli recent deposits of alluvium, blown sand, and shingle. 
The appendix contains records of all tbe well-sections ; and lists 
of fossils frorn tbe London Clay of Harwich; and from tbe Red Crag 
of Walton Naze and Beaumont ; and from tbe Pliocene (probably 
Post-Glacial) deposits of Walton and Harwich. 
References are given to tbe works of tbe chief observers, amongst 
wbom may be mentioned Dale, tbe Rev. W. B. Clarke, Dr. J. 
Mitchell, Mr. John Brown, Prof. Prestwieb, and Mr. S. Y. Wood, juu. 
H. B. W. 
IV. — On New and Little-knoavn Fossil Fishes from the Edin- 
burgh District, No. I. By R. H. Traquair, M.D., F.G.S. 
(Proceedings Royal Society of Edinburgh, Session 1876-77.) 
I N tbe above memoir Prof. Traquair bas given lengthy and minute 
descriptions of tliree species of Fossil Fishes from the Blackband 
Ironstone of Venturefair Colliery, Gilmerton, and tbe Carboniferous 
shales of Wardie. Tbey are referred to two genera, Nematoptychius, 
Traq., and Gonatodus, Traq., and to tbe family Palwoniscidce. The 
first “genus was instituted by tbe autbor for tbe reception of the 
Pygopterus Greenockii of Agassiz, and characterized in tbe ‘ Aunals 
and Magazine of Natural History,’ for April, 1875.” He bere 
describes anotber species, N. gracilis, Traq., founded upon two 
specimens, the only ones at present known, and which are re- 
spectively nine inches, and about ten inckes in lengtb, tbe form is 
elongate and slender, tbe dorsal fin being situated very far back, 
and tbe scales small, but tbeir configuration is apparently tbe same 
as in Nematoptychius Greenockii,” tbe external ornamentation being 
tbe same as in tbat species. “ Tbe external surface of the lower jaw 
is ornamented witb a minute and very close tuberculation ; tbe 
dental margin of tbe maxilla is also tuberculated, but tbe rest of its 
surface is marked Avitk delicate ridges.” “ Large conical teetli occur 
in both jaws, witb a few of tbe external series of smaller ones.” 
Tbe paired fins may be termed small, tbe pectoral and ventral in 
one specimen being respectively 1 inch and f of an iuck in lengtb ; 
tbe rays are fine, but tbeir number not aecurately known. He 
remarks “ tbat the present species is closely allied to tbe powerful 
Nematoptychius Greenockii, Ag. sp. — it differs, kowever, from tbe 
latter in several particulars, beside its smaller size.” 
Gonatodus is a neAv genus, and comprises tAvo species ; it is 
founded in part for tbe reception of a specimen — one of three — from 
the Carboniferous shales of Wardie, and described and figured by 
Agassiz as Amhlypterus punctatus. These tliree imperfect specimens, 
our author States, kaving personally examined and compared tkern 
“ with a series of entire fishes from tbe Wardie beds, establisli tbe 
fact, tbat tbe Amhlypterus punctatus of Agassiz was founded upon 
fragments of two distinct species, tbe specimen witb the head, but 
Avitkout tbe hinder part of tbe body, being even generically distinct 
