CoccoLEPis AUSTPALis, Smith Woodward. 
(Mus. Cat. Foss. Fishes, 1891, Ft. 2, p. o25.) 
Plate I ; Plate 11, Fig. 4 ; Plate Y, Fig. 1. 
Ohs . — This appears to be a rare species, hut the examples in the 
collection afford much new information concerning the skeleton of the 
Mesozoic Palmoniscid fishes, and are thus of considerable importance. They 
may he enumerated as follows : — 
{a) Large liead and abdominal region in counterpart, ivanting the 
extremity of the snout, to he regarded as the type specimen (PI. I, 
Fig. 1). 
(f/) End of caudal region of an equally large tish (PI. II, Fig. 4<). 
(e) Small individual, imperfectly preserved hut nearly complete (PI. 1, 
Fig. 2). 
id) Still smaller fish exhibiting the greater part of the fins (PI. V, 
Fig. 1). 
The specific identity of the two last-mentioned specimens with the foregoing 
is not quite certain ; hut they seem to ditVer only in the relatively gri'at 
length of the joints of the fin-rays, a character regarded with good reason 
as denoting immaturity among Palmoniseidm. 
Sp. Char . — A very large species, attaining a length of at least 0*35. 
Maximum depth of trunk comprised about six times in the total length of 
the fish ; head longer than deep. Pelvic fins relatively large, arising about 
midway between the pectorals and the anal ; dorsal fin arising at the middle 
of the hack, of moderate size, its maximum depth not greater than that of 
the trunk at its point of origin ; anal fin somewhat smaller. Scales of 
moderate size, the exposed area rliomijic in shape, ornamented Avith numerous 
closely arranged tubercles, often elongated and in horizontally direet('d 
parallel series. 
Head and Opercular Apparatus . — TTie general form of the head is well 
shown, the mandibular suspeusorium being very ohli(pie, the gape Avide, the 
cranium elongated, and the snout projecting some distance in advance of the 
mouth. The robust character of the pterygo-quadrate arcade is indicated in 
the type specimen (PI. I, ITg. la, u), and there are obscure impressions of 
the cranial roof-hones and mandibular elements in No. c ( PI. I, Fig. 2). The 
ethmoidal region in the latter fossil also exhil>its an external ornament of 
