The Freshwater Fishes of South Africa. 



365 



mouth feebly curved, its width ^ to i length of head ; two barbels on 

 each side, the posterior being the longer and equal to, or slightly 

 greater or less than, diameter of eye. The largest specimen has 

 conical tubercles on head, which are not apparent in the smaller 

 specimens. 



Dorsal iv 9 ; last simple ray strong, bony, not serrated, its rigid 

 part f to ~ length of head ; border of fin concave ; longest branched 

 ray a little shorter than or equal to length of head. Anal iii 5 ; not 

 reaching or barely reaching base of caudal. Pectoral a little shorter 

 than or equal to head, not reaching ventral which is inserted below 

 middle of dorsal. Caudal deeply forked, with pointed lobes ; caudal 

 peduncle H to 1-f times as long as deep. Scales 28-32, lat. tr. ^jr ; 



FIG. 32. Varicorhinus hrucii. 



2^- to 3 rows of scales between lateral line and base of ventral, 12 rows 

 round caudal peduncle. 



Colour (of preserved specimens) , dark brown on back, lighter below ; 

 often with small dark spots here and there on body and fins, especially 

 on caudal. 



Nine specimens, ranging from 102-263 mm. in length, from 

 Thabina and Letsikela Eivers, Zoutpansberg District, Trans- 

 vaal. 



Five specimens, ranging from 84-204 mm. in length, from Six- 

 mile Spruit, Pretoria District, Transvaal. 



One specimen, 217 mm. in length, from Crocodile Eiver, Trans- 

 vaal. 



One specimen, 223 mm. in length, from Transvaal (locality 

 unknown). 



