NO. 2294. FISHES FROM WEST AFRICA— FOWLER. 263 



except snout, jaws, and chin. About 6 rows of scales on cheek. 

 Scales finely ctenoid, basal striae about 11. Lateral line slightly 

 convex; slopes down till midway at caudal base. Dorsals and anals 

 with developed basal scaly sheaths. Caudal base scaly. Rays of 

 soft dorsal and anal scaleless. Above lateral line scales in oblique 

 rows to front part of spinous dorsal, then parallel with lateral line, 

 and rows below lateral hne horizontal. Fourth dorsal spine longest, 

 little less than half of head; fin well separated from soft dorsal; first 

 ray, 2f in head. Second anal spine much longest, If in head, not 

 quite reaching caudal base; third spine much shorter and more 

 slender, or about long as first ray; both 2} in head. Caudal v/ith 

 hind edge concave; fin, H in head; pectoral, 1; ventral, Ih. 



Color in alcohol brownish, little paler below. Below dorsals on 

 back and sides down to pectoral, with deep brown spots, variable, 

 though largely in horizontal rows, or about four or five rows equally 

 above and below lateral line. Blackish blotch at hind opercle edge 

 little smaller than eye. Outer membranes of spinous dorsal with 

 obscure dusky blotches, and subbasal band of brown spots on mem- 

 branes of soft dorsal; outer portion of fin })rownish. Hind caudal 

 edge tinged with dusky. Length, 230 mm. 



The three Ashantee examples listed previously all agree in the 

 characteristic long second anal spine extending beyond any of the 

 anal rays or other spines. They show: head, 2f to 24; depth, 2§ 

 to 2| ; i). X or XI, 16; A. Ill, 8 to 10; scales, 46 to 52 in lateral line 

 to caudal base and 8 to 12 more on latter; 5 or 6 scales above lateral 

 hne, 11 to 14 below; snout, 3^ in head; eye, 3f to 3f ; maxillary, 3f 

 to 3§ ; interorbital, 4^ to 4J; length, 115 to 175 mm. 



PSEUDOTOLITHUS TYPUS Bleeker. 



Head, 3J: depth, 4§ ; D. IX, I, 29; A. II, 7; scales 50 in lateral 

 line to caudal base and 22 more on caudal medially; 7 scales above 

 lateral line to soft dorsal and 7 below to anal; snout, 4^ in head, 

 measured from upper jaw tip; eye, 7§ ; maxillary, 2J; interorbital, 



Body compressed, deepest at pectoral end. Caudal peduncle 

 length about two-thirds least depth; latter 3f in head. Head width, 

 2 J its length; upper profile concave to snout. Latter convex; 

 length two-thirds its width. Eye small, faces largely upward; 

 center slightly before first third in head. Mouth large, well inclined; 

 lower jaw well protruded. Maxillary to hind eye edge. Lips thin, 

 fleshy. Teeth fiiie, in narrow bands and outer row in each enlarged, 

 though upper much larger. In front above one or two slightly 

 enlarged canines. Hind nostril very close before eye and larger than 

 front, which less than half an eye-diameter before front eye edge. 

 Interorbital slightly convex. Preopercle edge obsoletely denticulate. 



