JAN., 1918. FISHES FROM THE ATHI RIVER HUBBS. 15 



The dorsal fin is evidently but not strongly falcate; its origin is 

 equidistant from the end of the last vertebra and from the middle of 

 the snout; the origin is directly over the middle of the pelvic base. 

 Dorsal with 7 branched rays (only i among 45 specimens counted has 

 8 rays); there are 3 simple rays; the first very short, sometimes con- 

 cealed, the second short and slender, the third strong and bony, except 

 at its tip; the posterior edge on each side is armed with numerous ser- 

 rations; the front edge of spine is closely articulate, while the bony por- 

 tion is more sparsely and less distinctly articulate; the bony portion of 

 the spine is contained 1.4 (1.25 to 1.4) times in the head. The anal fin 

 is composed of 3 simple and 5 branched rays (2 specimens among 45 

 have 6 rays); the fin has a straight margin, and when depressed falls 

 far short of the caudal; the pectoral fin fails to reach the pelvic, being 

 contained but 1.4 (1.35 to 1.6) times in the head; the pelvic fins reach 

 almost to the anus. 



The coloration in alcohol is brown above and silvery below; with a 

 dark mediodorsal streak; a rather diffuse lateral band posteriorly, in- 

 tensified to form a blackish line near its lower border; a dark purplish 

 brown blotch along the region of the lateral line anteriorly, the color 

 becoming darkest near the base of the scales; a distinct caudal spot 

 about as large as the pupil. The top of the head and the opercle are 

 dark. Caudal fin dusky; dorsal with a little pigment; other fins clear. 



In a few very young specimens the pigment along the lateral band is 

 concentrated more or less definitely into three spots; one above the 

 pectoral, another above the anal origin, and the third at the caudal base. 

 This color type, rarely developed in the young of akeleyi, is the typical 

 adult color developed in the related B. percivali, and still more notably 

 in other species such as B. trispilus. 



Chiloglanis deckenii Peters. 



One specimen, 50 mm. long to the caudal base (Cat. No. 6113), 

 agrees in nearly every detail with the descriptions of this species. One 

 difference between our specimen and Peters' figure cannot, however, 

 be overlooked, namely the form and length of the lower labial barbels; 

 in this respect the specimen at hand agrees closely with the type figure 

 of Synodontis eurystomus Pfeffer, 1 which Boulenger regards as a synonym 

 of C. deckenii. The maxillary barbel is flattened and slightly fringed 

 along both sides. Greatest depth of body, 6.0 in length without caudal; 

 length of caudal peduncle, from end of anal base to end of last vertebra, 

 1.75 times its least depth. Extreme length of head, 3.3 ; diameter of eye, 

 6.0 in head; eye in interorbital, 1.5; interspace between posterior nostril 



1 Jahrb. Hamb. Wiss. Anst., 10, 1892 (1893), p. 159, pi. 1, fig. 5a, b. 



