514 ACTINOPTERYGII. 
c ^ , /V./£UcC^'^ , % />./**,/ b- KXK, K* - - 
Genus ATHERSTONIA, A. S. Woodward. 
[Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. [6] vol. iv. 1889, p. 241.] 
Syn. Hypterus, R. Owen, Catal. Foss. Kept. S. Africa, 1876, p. ix. (name 
only). 
Trunk fusiform, elongated but robust. Mandibular suspensorium 
very oblique and gape wide; [teeth unknown] : head and opercular 
bones externally rugose and tuberculated. Fins powerful, with 
broad, laterally compressed rays, frequently articulated and dis- 
tally bifurcated ; anterior pectoral fin-rays uuarticulated in their 
proximal half ; pelvic fins with an elongated base-line, the dorsal 
arising between the pelvics and the anal, and the last-named fin 
remote, much extended. Scales large or of moderate size, exter¬ 
nal^ marked with oblique striae, and subdivided into smaller scales 
at the base of the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins; dorsal margin with 
a continuous series of very large, deeply overlapping ridge-scales. 
Atherstonia scutata, A. S. Woodward. 
1876. Hypterus bainii, 11. Owen, Catal. Foss. Rept. S. Africa, p. ix. 
(name only). 
1889. Atherstonia scutata, A. S. Woodward, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. [6] 
vol. iv. p. 242, pi. xiv. figs. 1-3. 
Type. Nearly complete fish; British Museum. 
The type species, attaining a length of about 0-35. Head with 
opercular apparatus occupying about one-fifth of the total length. 
Pelvic fins arising somewhat nearer to the pectorals than to the 
anal; the latter much larger than the dorsal, and for the greater 
part behind this fin. Flank-scales slightly deeper than broad ; 
none posteriorly denticulated. Scale-ornament consisting of sharp 
striae, often bifurcating and intercalated, slightly oblique on the 
principal scales of the flank. 
Form. 6f Loc. Beaufort Beds (Lower Karoo Series) : Cape Colony, 
South Africa. 
P.4735. Type specimen ; Colesberg. 
Presented by the Hon . W. Guybon Atherstone, M.D., 1884. 
46007. Imperfect trunk, labelled Hypterus bainii in Owen’s hand¬ 
writing : Alice, near Fort Beaufort. 
Presented by the Trustees of the Albany Museum, 1873. 
36260. Portion of trunk with dorsal ridge-scales and fin; Brak River, 
Fort Beaufort. Presented by A. G. Bain, Esq., 1862. 
