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Show 1900.] FAUNA OF THE WHITE NILE. 969 VI. FISHES. Mr. G. A. Boulenger, F.E.S., has kindly determined the following fishes, specimens of which I collected and sent to the British Museum. 1. POLYPTERUS SENEGALUS. Specimens were obtained on the Bahr-el-Zeraf, Bahr-el-Jebel, and Bahr-el-Ghazal. On the 8th of April two were caught with rod and line, by dangling a little piece of meat on a hook just under the surface of the water in a little shallow muddy backwater of the Jebel. 2. POLYPTERUS BICHIR. On the 7th April a specimen was caught by hand on the Bahr-el- Jebel, frightened by the approaching steamer it had jumped out of the water on to the sudd. Colour (in life). Olive-green, darker on the top of the head and along back, pale lemon-yellow below. Lips and underneath of head washed with pink. Tentacle red. Eed lights about gills and pectoral fins. Body about vent, and ends of ventral, anal, and caudal fins, tinged with bright red. Iris yellow. 3. HETEROTIS NILOTICUS. Sometimes called the " White Nile Salmon," and said to be very good eating, but I have not tried it personally. Specimen caught at Gabt-el-Meghahid on the 15th of April:-Total length over all 2 feet 3 inches; depth (at vent) 5f inches. 4. GYMNARCHUS NILOTICUS. A specimen of this large eel-like fish was caught near the junction of the Ghazal and Homar rivers on the 29th March ; it measured in total length 3 feet 9| inches. 5. TlLAPIA NILOTICA. A " Boultee" was caught at Gabt-el-Meghahid on the 15th April, and on the 29th March when steaming down the Bahr-el-Arab a large one jumped on board the gunboat: we ate it, but the flesh was not nice, being soft and " muddy." 6. SYNODONTIS SCHALL. This Siluroid seemed numerous on the Bahr-el-Zeraf, specimens were caught on hook and line from the steamer while tied up to the bank. 7. BAGRUS DOCMAC Bahr-el-Zeraf, caught as above. 8. CLARIAS LAZEBA. Bahr-el-Zeraf, caught as above. |