OCR Text |
Show 1899.] FROM THE GOLD COAST. 725 greatest width being two thirds of its length. The greater portion of the upper surface of the head is granulated, or covered only with a thin film of skin ; the snout, as usual, is covered with soft skin. Occipital process longer than the basal bone of the dorsal spine, both meeting behind the middle of the nape. Snout of moderate length, narrowed towards the end, with the upper profile descending in a curved line ; its length is one third of that of the head. Upper jaw slightly overlapping the lower ; mouth of moderate width, as wide as the distance between the eyes. Nasal barbels minute, about one-third the width of the eye ; maxillary barbels reaching the gill-opening, outer mandibular}- barbels not reaching the gill-opening, if stretched backward; mandibulary barbels inserted in a straight line, the inner being one third of the diameter of the eye distant from each other. The teeth on the palate are confined to the vomer, being placed in two small groups which are distant from each other about one fourth of the diameter of the eye **. The band of intermaxillary teeth is scarcely tapering outward, each half being two thirds as long as broad. The width of the bony interorbital space is three fifths of the diameter of the eye, which is four fifths of the length of the snout, and contained 3^ times in that of the head. Dorsal fin rather high, but not reaching the adipose fin, if laid backward; the length of its base is one half, or a little less than one half, of its distance from the adipose fin, and nearly twice as long as the base of the latter. Dorsal spine as long as the head without snout, with indistinct posterior serrature in its upper half. Anal fin not reaching the caudal, if laid backward, with 12 rays, 7 of which are branched. Caudal fin deeply cleft, with the upper lobe rather longer than the head. Pectoral spine as long as that of the dorsal tin, smooth along the outer edge. Upper parts greyish olive, sides and abdomen silvery. Corisco Isld. (two specimens, 148 and 163 millim. long). The principal character by which this species differs from Ch. buttikoferi (s. str.) is the smaller number of anal rays. CHRYSICHTHYS LAGOENSIS, sp. n. Chrysichthys macrops, part., Giinth. Ann. & Mag. N , H . 1867, Aug. p. 111. The height of the body is two ninths of the total length (without caudal), the length of the head rather less than one third. Caudal peduncle two thirds as high as long. Head a little broader than high, its greatest depth being two thirds of its length ; the greater portion of its upper surface is granulated. Occipital process rather broad, as long as the basal bone of the dorsal spine, both meeting in the middle of the nape. Snout long, two fifths of the 1 The two specimens are not quite alike in this respect; on the right-hand side of the larger specimen, the patch of teeth is continued backward in a single series of about six minute teeth. In the smaller specimens the two vomerine patches are rather more approximated than in the larger. PROC. ZOOL. SOO.-1899, No. XLVII. 47 |