74 
NATURAL HISTORY. (Fossils.) 
[north 
is the geniis Macropoma : the complete and beautiful suite of speci¬ 
mens of its principal species, M. ManteUi , from the chalk of Sussex, 
formed part of the Mantellian collection. 
The Pycnodons (Cases 15, 16, lower shelves). Several of the 
specimens here deposited are illustrative of the character by which the 
teeth of the fishes of this family may easily be distinguished from those 
of some placoid fishes. Among the largest of the teeth are those of some 
species of Pycnodon, from the upper oolite, especially P. Gigas, and of 
Sphcerodus Gigas , formerly described as petrified eyes of toads, &c.; also 
the teeth of Placodus Gigas, from the Muschelkalk of Franconia, 
deserve p articular notice. 
The family of Scleroderms ( Cases 15 and 16, middle shelves): among 
the species belonging to it, in the collection, are—a suite of specimens 
of Dercetis elongatus, chiefly from the chalk of Preston, near Brighton; 
the Acanthopleurus serratus, likewise from the chalk formation (slate 
of Glaris); and the Blochius longirostris, from Monte Bolca. 
The third Order of fishes, the Ctenoids, or Ctenolepidoti 
(so called from their scales being formed of layers, of which the upper¬ 
most are denticulated or comb-toothed at their posterior margin), is 
divided into the following families—the Percoids, Sparoids, Scienoids, 
Cottoids, Gobioids, Aulostomes, Chetodons, Pleuronects, and Mugil- 
loids. The type of the first of them (Cases 17 and 18) is the perch; 
and of the three fossil species known, the Perea lepidota from 
Oeningen,of which a remarkably perfect specimen is here deposited, is 
the largest. Among specimens of other genera belonging to the Per¬ 
coids may be mentioned the fine series from the Sussex chalk, of 
Beryx Lewesiensis , which (as also that of Dercetis, in this Case) 
formed part of Dr. Mantell's rich collection; and three scarce 
species of Rhacolepis, placed with them, are from the chalk formation 
of Brazil. 
Or the few fossil Sparoids, or Breams (Case 19), the Sparnodus 
ovalis, from Monte Bolca, and the Scicenurus Bowerbankii , from 
Sheppey, may be mentioned: all the fishes of this family are from 
more recent formations than the chalk, as is also the case with the 
species of the Cottoids or Bullheads (Case 19, middle), the Goboids 
or Gobi^, and the Teuthies of Cuvier, most of the fossil representa¬ 
tives of which families are from Monte Bolca. 
The principal genus of the family of Aulostomes (Case 20, lower 
shelves) is Fistularia, one species of which occurs at Monte Bolca; 
the other, Fistularia magnifica ( Egert. Catal.), in the Engi slate of 
Canton Glaris. 
Among the fossil species belonging to the family of the Chcetodons 
( Case 20, middle), all from Monte Bolca, and more recent te tiary form¬ 
ations, may be particularized the very perfect specimen (with counter¬ 
part) of that most singular fish, the Semiophorus velifer, fio n the above 
locality; and a series of those well-known osseous bodies found in the 
crag of Norfolk, which, when cut and polished, have the appearance of 
marbled pebbles, but are recognised by Agassiz as interapophysal bones 
of a species of Platax called P. Woodwardi. 
The family of Pleuronects ( Case 20, middle) is represented by one 
genus only, namely Rhombus r having one fossil species, the elegant R. 
