OCR Text |
Show 1899.] FROM THE GOLD COAST. 731 young specimen agrees better with these proportions than with those given by Bleeker. On the other hand, in the figure by which he illustrates his description, the eye seems to have been represented of too small a size. HAPLOCHILTTS INFRAFASOIATUS Gthr. Several immature specimens from the Kakum River. ALESTES LONGIPINNIS Gthr. Is apparently common in the Kotchwah River. PETERSIUS OCCIDENTALS, sp. n. (Plate XLV., fig. B.) D. 10. A. 21-24. L. lat. 25. L. transv. 4/3. The height of the body is contained 3 times, the length of the head 3| times in the total (without caudal); eye large, longer than the snout, and contained 2| times in the length of the head ; head, like body, strongly compressed, but the abdomen rounded in front of the ventrals. Dorsal fin higher than long, its first ray in the middle between the end of the snout and the root of the caudal. Analof the mature male with the anterior rays somewhat enlarged, forming a projecting lobe. Caudal forked. There are two series of scales between the lateral line and ventral fin ; the lateral line is anteriorly curved downward and runs towards the lower edge of the caudal peduncle, the perforations of the scales becoming indistinct. Silvery, with an indistinct, narrow, bluish band along the middle of the side and tail. Dorsal fin black in its anterior half, with a yellow baud across the middle. This ornamental marking is most distinct in adult males, and very obsolete in immature specimens. Six specimens, the longest 60 millim. long, from the Kotchwah River. I have referred this fish to Hilgendorfs genus Petersius (S.B. Ges. ntrf. Fr. Berlin, 1894, p. 172), from the Kingani River in East Africa, although it does not quite agree with Hilgendorfs description of the dentition; this author also does not mention the partial disappearance of the lateral line on the tail. The teeth in the intermaxillary stand in two series, but the two series are quite separate, and the teeth of the two series are opposite to each other rather than alternate. I count six in the anterior, eight in the posterior, and as many in the mandibular series. The largest are in the posterior series, where they may be seven-pointed, the largest central cusps being laterally compressed. Those of the front series are more simple, but all seem to be tricuspid at least. No maxillary teeth. MORMYRUS'LONGICEPS Gthr. Mormyrus longiceps, Giinth. Ann. & Mag. N. H. 1867, xx p. 116. ' One specimen, from the Kotchwah River. |