DERCETID^. 
175 
uncinate spine, which is especially large in the region between the 
pelvic and anal fins, but becomes much reduced on the caudal 
pedicle ; anterior abdominal flank-scutes narrow heart-shaped. 
Form. Log. Upper Cretaceous ; Mt. Lebanon, Syria. 
P. 4007. Specimen figured by Davis, Joe. cit. pi. xxxviii, fig. 1 ; 
Sahel Alma. The head is much shortened by accident, 
the projecting premaxillaries being broken away in front, 
the cranium imperfect behind ; and the opercular region 
is also shortened by the distortion of the fish. The 
cranial roof appears to be exposed from withiu, and 
where the bone is flaked away a small impression of the 
right frontal shows the longitudinally-ridged ornament. 
The characteristic anterior termination of the mesethmoid 
is well-preserved. The extent of the very large orbit is 
shown in Davis’ flgure; in front there is the usual 
smooth, ovoid cheek-plate. Some of the very slender, 
backwardly-curved teeth are exhibited in remains of the 
jaws. An impression of the left operculum is seen, but 
too imperfect for description. The vertebrae can be 
distinguished throughout the length of the fish and seem 
to have been slightly over seventy in number; those 
towards the hinder edge of the abdominal region ex¬ 
hibiting the robust transverse processes, of which each 
bears a long and very slender rib. The anterior half of 
the abdominal region is much distorted, and the pectoral 
fin is preserved on either side, that of the left side being 
most nearly complete. Ten rays can be counted in the 
latter, the three foremost being much the stoutest, with 
sparse articulations in their distal half, the others 
comparatively delicate, both articulated and subdivided in 
their distal half. The pelvic fins are also squeezed apart 
and exhibited one on either side of the fossil, arising about 
twice as far from the caudal as from the pectorals and 
comprising a few slender rays longer than those of the 
latter. The dorsal and anal fins are not preserved, but 
the caudal is nearly complete and shown to be slightly 
forked, with about six short fulcral rays at its base above 
and below. The scutes are largest and shown partly in 
double series on the margins of the fossil, and thev 
distinctly form a continuous line along the regions which 
would be occupied by the dorsal and anal fins. They are 
all triradiate, with slender branches,, and longitudinally 
