ATHERlJflD^. 
361 
The undefined name Atherina minidissima was also given by 
Agassiz (Poiss. Poss. vol. iv. 1835, p. 43) to a fish from Monte 
Bolca. 
Genas RHAMPHOGIMATHUS, Agassiz. 
[Poiss. Poss. vol. V. pt. i. 1844, pp. 9, 104.] 
Syn. Mesogaster, L. Agassiz, ibid. pp. 9, 105. 
As Atherina., but snout elongated to an acute point and scales 
relatively smaller. 
In the present state of knowledge it is impossible to distinguish 
this fish satisfactorily from the existing Atherine genera named 
Chirostoma (Swainson, 1839), Menidia (Bonaparte, 1840), Ather- 
inoides (Bleeker, 1853), Atherinichthys (Bleeker, 1853), Basilichthys 
(Girard, 1854), Atherinopsis (Girard, 1854), Labidesthes (Cope, 
1870), (Steindachner, 1875), and Leurestlies (Jordan & 
Gilbert, 1880). Opinions vary as to how many of these are 
synonymous. 
Rhamphognathus paralepoides, Agassiz. 
1796. Esox sphyrcena, G. S. Volta, Ittiolit. Veronese, p. cvii. pi. xxiv. 
fig. 2 (errore). 
1796. Esox saurus, G. S. Volta, ibid. p. ccvi. pi. 1. fig. 2 [errore'). 
1796. Ammodytes tobianus, G. S. Volta, ibid. p. ccxx. pi. liii. fig. 3 
(errore). 
1818. “ Ammodytes tobianusp H. D. de Blainville, Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. 
Nat. vol. xxvii. p, 860. 
1835. Rhamphognathus paralepoides, L. Agassiz, Neues Jahrb. p. 292 
(name only). 
1839-44. Rhainphognathusparalepoides, L. Agassiz, Poiss. Poss. vol. v. 
pt. i. p. 104, pi. xxxviii. fig. 1 [R. pompilius on plateb 
1876. Rhamphognathus paralepoides, P. Bassani, Atti Soc. Veneto- 
Trent. Sci. Nat. vol. iii. p. 186. 
1898. Rhamphognathus paralepoides, P. Bassani, Palaeont. Italica, 
vol. iii. p. 81, pi. ix. fig. 3. 
Type. Imperfect fish ; Paris Museum of Natural History. 
The type species, attaining a length of about 0-2. Length of 
head with opercular apparatus contained nearly four times in the 
total length of the fish. Teeth very minute and pointed. Vertebrae 
24 in the abdominal, 22 in the caudal region. Pelvic fins arising 
somewhat nearer to the pectorals than to the anal. Anterior dorsal 
fin with at least 8 spines, situated opposite the middle of the space 
between the pelvic and anal fins; posterior dorsal and anal fins 
directly opposed, with from 7 to 9 rays. 
Form. Log. Upper Eocene ; Monte Bolca, near Verona. 
Not represented in the Collection. 
