On a New Species of Acanthodes from the Coal-shales of Longton

Abstract

Owing to the kindness of Mr. Ward, of Longton (who has for some time past devoted his time and attention to collecting the fossil remains of the coal-pits in his vicinity), I have had the opportunity of examining a considerable collection of specimens of the Acanthodian fishes of the North Staffordshire Coal-measures. Numerically speaking, the collection is a large one, but the specimens themselves are all imperfect. The anterior parts of the fish are rarely preserved; and even when present, the dislocations and crushed condition of the component bones are so extensive that the form and structural details of the head and thorax are difficult to decipher. Most of the best-preserved specimens contain the middle and hinder portions of the body, from the ventral spines to the bifurcation of the tail; and all have the scales well shown, and most of the spines supporting the fins. Although it might perhaps be desirable to wait for more perfect specimens before undertaking a complete determination of the specific forms, yet the evidence already procured is so decisive as to the distinctness of at least one species, that a brief description of this form may be given without prejudice to future investigation. The generic characters of Acanthodes have been so thoroughly worked out in previous publications * that if is needless to recapitulate them here, the more so since no important anatomical points are supplemented by the specimens under consideration. Selecting for description those, individuals of a medium size, the length of the