1 
38 
Fal(Boniscus, from the Permian of Europe, At first sight, the resemlilance 
is certainly striking; and the Australian genus was originally placed in the 
family of Pycnodontidte, at that time considered to include fishes of the 
Platysomid type. A later discovery, however, in the Stormherg beds of South 
Africa,* has sliown that Cleithrolepis is nearly related to Teiragonolepis (an 
ally of Dapedius) , ditfcriug both in the structure of the head and the tail from 
the Platysomidae. As shown in the accompanying restoration of the type- 
species, based upon the fossils descrilied below, the tail is almost homocercal — 
certainly as much so as in the Lepidosteus ; and no jii’eoperculum 
can he distinguished. So far as recognizable, there is a narrow regular ring of 
circumorhital memhrane-hones, in addition to distinct siihorhitals; and it 
seems evident, though not absolutely proved, that each ray of the dorsal and 
anal fitis was originally supported by a separate interspinous hone. At the 
same time, it may lie noted tliat the large relative size of the suhoperculum, 
and the small dimensions of the operculum, are unparalleled among known 
Eapedioids, while characteristic of Platysomids ;f and the peculiar forward 
rellection of the scales at ihe base of the dorsal and anal tins is unique in the 
former group, though well known at least in the anal region of tlic type- 
genus of the latter. The singular elevation of the dorsal margin in advance 
of the dorsal fin is also most suggestive of fishes of the Platysomid family. 
Notwithstanding the great niimhcr of individuals contained in the 
present collection, it does not appear possible to recognize with certainty 
more than a single species — that first descrilied by Egertoii under the name 
of C. grmudatus — though one imjierfect specimen may perhaps indicate a 
* Smith Woodward, “ On two New Lepidotoid Ganoids from the Early IMesozoic Deposits of tlie Orange Free 
State, South Africa,” Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., Vol. xliv, pp. 111-113, I’l. vi, figs. 6, 7. 
t See K. II. Traquair, “On the Structure and Atlinitics of the Platysomida',” Trans. Koy. Soc. Edinb., 
1879, Vol. xxix, pp. 313-391, Pis. iii-vi. 
