Tin- Frf*I/ir<it,>i- FixJir* a/ BnufJi Africa. 



537 



60 in upper jaw. Depth of body 3! to 3 T \,- times in total length 

 excluding caudal, length of hmd -J-, 7 ,, 1o iV, limes. Head large, 2^ to 

 2i times as long as broad, with straight or slightly concave upper 

 profile ; snout a little longer than broad, li to 1 J times as long as eye 

 (in young), which is 3 T 2 <j to 4 T \j times in length of head, 1} to If times 

 in interorbital width, and exceeds least depth of preorbital ; mouth 

 large, oblique, extending to below anterior border of eye or not quite 

 so far, lower jaw slightly projecting ; 4 to 5 series of scales on the 

 cheek, width of scaly part equal to diameter of eye (in young). Gill- 

 rakers short, 10 on lower part of anterior arch. 



FIG. 153. Pelmatochromis spekii. Type. i. 



Dorsal xv-xvi 8-11 ; spines increasing in length to the last, which 

 is \ to f length of head ; longest soft rays -- to i length of head. 

 Pectoral to T 7 ^ length of head, not reaching anal. Ventral reaching 

 to vent or a little beyond. Anal iii 8 ; 3rd spine -J- length of head, 

 stronger than dorsal spines. Caudal rounded- subtruncate ; caudal 

 peduncle 1| times as long as deep. Scales cycloid or feebly denticulate, 

 29-33 ^f-|f ; lateral lines ~ 



Colour (of preserved specimens) light reddish brown, darker above 

 than below, with faint dark cross-bars on the back ; 2 more or less 

 distinct dark lateral stripes, and an indistinct dark vertical bar below 

 the eye ; a dark opercular spot ; soft dorsal and caudal with faint dark 

 spots. 



Six specimens, ranging from 60 to 83 mm. in length, from Magalies 

 Eiver, Transvaal. Pretoria Museum. 



