The Freshwater Fishes of South Africa. 343 



reaches almost to vertical of anterior border of eye. Gill-rakers 

 short, 12 to 15 on lower part of anterior arch. 



Dorsal ii-iii 8 ; originating above base of ventrals, sometimes 

 slightly in advance or behind, and midway between point of snout, 

 nostrils, or anterior margin of eye and base of caudal ; longest ray 

 | to nearly as long as head. Anal iii 16-17. Pectoral about / length 

 of head, not reaching base of ventrals. Caudal peduncle If times to 



twice as long as deep. Scales 28-30 |f, 2 between lateral line and 

 base of ventral. 



Colour (of preserved specimens), silvery ; a darkish silvery lateral 

 band on body ; distal extremity of dorsal black. 



Numerous specimens ranging from 42 to 65 mm. in length, 

 from Sabi River, Transvaal ; Major J. Stevenson Hamilton. 



One specimen, 49 mm. in length, from Lydenburg district, 

 Transvaal. 



Four specimens, ranging from 51 to 59 mm. in length, from Dwaars 

 River, Transvaal. 



It is also reported from the Nile, Omo, Niger, Congo, Zambezi, 

 and Limpopo. 



MlCRALESTES HUMILIS, Blgr. 



Bouleng., Ann. Mus. Congo, Zool., i., p. 87, pi. xxxvi., fig. 4 (1899) ; 

 Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 161 (1901) ; and Cat. Fresh. Fish. Africa, 

 i., p. 226 (1909). 



Teeth, 14 in upper jaw (%), 10 in lower (). Depth of body 3^ 

 to 3 r 7 ^ times in total length excluding caudal, length of head about 



FIG. 16. Micralestes humilis. 



4 times. Head twice to 2^ times as long as broad, 1^ times as long 

 as deep ; snout f to i diameter of eye, which is 2f to 3 times in 

 length of head and equals or slightly exceeds interorbital width ; 

 maxillary reaches nearly to vertical of anterior border of eye. Gill- 

 rakers short, 14 on lower part of anterior arch. 



