COCCOSTEID J3, 291 
Coccostens minor, Hiller. 
1858. Coccosteus minor, H. Miller, ‘ Cruise of the Betsey/ etc. p. 396. 
1888. Coccosteus minor, R. H. Traquair, Geol. Mag. [3] vol. v. p. 511. 
1889. Coccosteus minor, R. H. Traquair, ibid. vol. vi. p. 8, pi. i. fig. 3. 
Type. Imperfect skeletons ; Edinburgh Museum. 
A very small species, attaining a maximum total length of about 
O'l. Cranial shield broader than long ; mandibular teeth very 
slender and sharply pointed ; infra-orbital bar of maxillo-suborbital 
bone relatively deep. Aledian dorsal plate about twice as long 
as broad, somewhat arched from side to side, gradually tapering 
in its posterior half into a long, blunt point; anterior border slightly 
excavated, and the granulations much finer along the mesial longi¬ 
tudinal line of the shield than at its sides. Posterior ventro-lateral 
plates twice as long as broad, produced at each postero-lateral angle 
into a short spine. Tuberculations numerous, of moderate size, never 
confluent, and not arranged in definite lines. Unarmoured caudal 
region about equal in length to the head and armoured portion of 
the trunk. 
As remarked by Hugh Miller, the remains of individuals of this 
species occur in groups, at first sight suggestive of their being shoals 
of young. 
Form, Loc. Lower Old Red Sandstone : Caithness and Orkney. 
42383. Three imperfect associated individuals ; Murkle Bay, Caith¬ 
ness* Peach Coll. 
42385. Remains of two or more individuals on one slab, showing 
stout 'well-ossified neural and haemal arches of axial 
skeleton ; Murkle Bay. Peach Coll. 
42384,42387-89. Four small slabs with scattered dermal plates ; 
Murkle Bay. The second specimen exhibits a mandi¬ 
bular bone with teeth. Peach Coll. 
42386. Imperfect median dorsal plate, ventral aspect; Thurso. 
Peach Coll 
P. 689. Slab with scattered dermal plates of several individuals, 
probably of this species ; Orkney. Egerton Coll. 
r. 3221—a. Two slabs with scattered dermal plates; Orkney. The 
second specimen shows an imperfect median dorsal plate 
exhibiting some of the characters stated in the diagnosis. 
Enniskillen Coll . 
v 2 
