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Show 500 MR. A. SMITH WOODWARD ON EXTINCT [Mar. 17, PLATE XVII. Fig. 1. Phialidium cymbaloideum, earliest free-swimming stage; p. 491. Valencia, 1895. Fig. 2. Phialidium cymbaloideum, adult, X 8; p. 491. Valencia, 1895. Fig. 2 a. Diagram of the margin of the umbrella. Fig. 3. Saphenia mirabilis, an intermediate stage, X 6 ; p. 493. Valencia, 1895. Fig. 4. Phialidium temporarium, earliest free-swimming stage, X 22; p. 489. Valencia, 1895. Fig. 5. Phialidium temporarium, X 8; p. 489. Valencia, 1895. Fig. 6. Phialidium temporarium, adult, X 6 ; p. 489. Port Erin, 1894. 3. On some Extinct Fishes of the Teleostean Family By A. SMITH W O O D W A R D , F.Z.S. [Received March 13, 1896.] (Plate XVIII.) In his well-known work ' Becherches sur les Osseraens Possiles' Baron Cuvier describes several fossil remains of fishes from the Upper Eocene gypsum of Montmartre, near Paris, which he briefly discusses with only provisional results and no definite names. Most of these have been redescribed by subsequent observers, who have bad additional specimens and more satisfactory materials for comparison; and the systematic position of some of thern is now determined with a considerable degree of certainty. One nearly complete specimen, however, which still remains incertce sedis, has not hitherto received the attention it deserves ; for it and a closely-allied form from the Eocene marls of Aix-en-Provence seem to belong to a nearly extinct family of Teleosteans (Gonorbynchidae) which has not previously been known to occur in the European area. This fossil is first described in the second edition of the work in question (1822), and exhibits remains of all the skeletal parts of a fish about 0-2 m. in length. As Cuvier himself remarks, the disposition of the fins is very suggestive of that in the "Gono-rbynque (Cyprinus gonorrynchus, Gron.)"; while "the parts of the head which are observable indicate a Cyprinoid with prominent nose, such as tbe Gonorhynque, the Cyprinus nasus [=Chondro-stoma], or a similar form." The small mouth, extended premaxillse, and absence of teeth are also noticed. A more imperfect example, not improbably of the same species, from Montmartre, had previously been described by de Blainville under the name of Anormurus macrolepidotus1; and its scales were said to be remarkably similar to those of a larger fish made known at the same time from Aix-en-Provence and referred to a new species of Cyprinus, namely C. squamosseus. The dorsal fin was described as remote and comprising 14 or 15 rays. The jaws appeared to be toothless, and five broad branchiostegal rays could be counted. In 1844 the so-called Cyprinus squamosseus of de Blainville 1 Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. vol. xxvii. (1818), p. 374. |