464 On the Fossil Fishes of the Carboniferous Limestone Series of Great Britain. 
to-day, are greatly modified or completely changed by the discoveries of to-morrow, 
that nothing can be regarded as fixed, and it is by the result of repeated applications 
only that the paleontologist is enabled to grasp the truth. ) 
It is suggested that the whole of the genera presently to be described be regarded 
as a separate group—the Coropontipa. In many respects they present features in 
common and appear to form a natural group. The name of the most numerous, 
best known and most characteristic genus naturally suggests itself as the fittest on 
which to base the name of the group. 
Genus Copodus, Ag., MSS. 
Copodus—L. Agassiz, 1859. MSS. Enniskillen collection. 
Palatal teeth of medium size, thick, sub-quadrate in outline; crown, either flat, 
slightly convex, or slightly concave; enamelled surface uniformly punctate; anterior 
margin convex, narrower than the posterior one; posterior margin, concave with 
postero-lateral prolongations; base, same form as crown, strong, osseous, and 
roughly striated. 
Copodus cornutus, Agass. MSS. 
(Pl. LVIII., figs. 1-5.) 
Psammodus cornutus—L. Agassiz, 1838. “Poissons Fossiles,” Vol. LIT. p. 174. 
3 9 J. E. Portlock, 1843. “Rept. Geol. Londonderry,” &c., p. 461., Pl. xiva. 
fig. 3. 
- 5 C. G. Giebel, 1848. < Fauna der Vorwelt,” Vol. I., pl. iii, p. 336, 
F % H. G. Bronn, 1848. ‘‘Nomencl. Paleont.,” p. 1048. 
5 56 ss 1849. ‘‘Enumerator Paleont.,”’ p. 647. 
Pe - J. Morris, 1854. ‘Cat. Brit. Foss.,” p. 340. 
n 5 F, J. Pictet, 1854. <‘Traité de Paléont ,” Vol. II., p. 266. 
5 % F. M‘Coy, 1855. ‘Brit. Paleoz. Foss.,” p. 643, 
Copodus cornutus—L. Agassiz, 1859. ‘MSS, Enniskillen collection. 
3 lunulatus 5 1859. 9 99 » 
i cornutus—Morris and Roberts, 1862. “Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc.,” Vol. XVITTI., p. 100, 
y lunulatus 5 1862. - - % a 
; cornutus——Enniskillen, 1869. <«Alph. Cat. Type Spec. Foss. Fish.,” p. 4. 
a lunulatus 66 1869. p 5 ” p 
x cornutus—J. J. Bigsby, 1878. ‘Thesaurus Devon. Carb.,” p. 351. 
*. lunulatus > 1878. . . . 
Teeth, sub-quadrate, anterior margin circular, lateral ones nearly straight and 
increasing in breadth backwards. Average specimens ‘75 of an inch in length, and 
about the same breadth between the latero-posterior augles, which are produced 
beyond the posterior portion of the tooth in hornlike processes. Largest specimen 
is 1:1 inch broad, posteriorly diminishing to ‘65 anteriorly. Length along the 
median line ‘85 of an inch, along the side 1:15 of an inch. The same specimen is 
* 
