>o. 2294. FISHES FROM WEST AFRICA— FOWLER. 251 



^Uthougli much confusion has arisen from the composite account 

 of Eaja torpedo Linnaeus it appears the action of Briinnich' clearly 

 indicates the first restriction of the species with the later Raja mar- 

 morata Ilisso. Briinnich says: -Doi-sum fusco-sanguinolcntum, ma- 

 culis sparsis obscurioribus variuni * =<= * Spn-acula 5, subtus 

 utrinque ad pectus." He then mentions a new variety, unknown to 

 himself, however, but described by Stilviani with five black oc lli 

 arranged in the form of a pentagon. 



MUGIL CEPHALUS Linnaeus. 



Head, 3^ to 3|; depth, 4 to 4^; D. IV— I, 8; A. HI, 8; scales, 36 

 to 43 from shoulder to caudal base, and 4 to 6 larger out over latter; 

 12 or 13 scales transversely between soft dorsal and anal origins; 

 23 to 27 predorsal scales; snout, 4 to 4^ in head; eye, 3f to 4; 

 maxillary, 3| to 4|; interorbital, 2J to 3. Rakers, 30 + 32, 2| in 

 filaments and latter | of eye. Length, 95 to 139 mm. ; four examples. 



Compared with an Italian example, with 41 scales from shoulder to 

 caudal base, the rakers were 33 + 46. The adipose eyelid much 

 better developed m the Italian fish, though scarcely as much so as 

 in adults from Italy and the Mediterranean. The scales of Italian 

 examples show basal radii 8 to 10, those from Ashantee 7 to 9, 

 doubtless a condition of age. 



LIZA RAMADA (Risso). 



Head, 3 to 3|; depth, 3^- to 3^; D. IV— I, 8: A. Ill, 9; scales, 37 

 to 39(?) from shoulder to caudal base, and 5 or 6 larger out over 

 latter; 12 or 13 scales transversely at soft dorsal and anal origins; 

 25 to 28 predorsal scales; snout, 3f to 5 in head; eye, 3i to 4; 

 maxillary, 3^ to 3|; interorbital, 2.V to 2|; rakers, 35 + 48. Length, 

 56 to 85 mm. ; four examples. 



Though I only have young African examples, doubtless of this 

 species, considerable variation due to age was noted when compared 

 with Mediterranean examples. The latter, 155 mm. long, had 44 to 

 47 + 50 to 75 rakers. The African examples show 9 to 1 1 basal radii 

 and no apical denticles on the scales, while in 8 large Mediterranean 

 examples these variations are covered. 



LIZA FALCIPINNIS (Valenciennes). 



Head, 3| to 3f ; depth, 3t to 3f ; D. IV— I, 9; A. Ill, 11; scales, 

 35 to 39 from shoulder to caudal base and 4 or 5 larger out over latter; 

 12 or 13 scales transversely between soft dorsal and anal origins; 

 29 to 31 predorsal scales; snout, 3| to 4 in head; ej^e, 3| to 4^; 

 maxillary, 3| to 4; interorbital, 2f to 3. Elongate, well compressed, 

 deepest at anal origin. Caudal peduncle well compressed, long as 



' loh. Massiliens., 1768, p. 1. 



