2. cHROMis. 267 



2. CHROMIS*. 



Chi'omis, pt., Ciw. Beyne Anim. 



Acara, pt., Hvck. Brasil. Fluss-Fische in Ann. Wien. Mus. ii. 1840, 



p. 338. 

 Tilapia, Smith, III. Zool. S. Afr. Pisces. 

 Ilaligenes, Gihitk. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1859, p. 471. 



Body compressed, oblong, covered with scales of moderate size ; 

 opercles scaly. Dorsal spines numerous, anal spines three. Teeth 

 compressed, more or less lobate, in one series, behind which are other 

 series containing immature teeth. Anterior prominences of the 

 branchial arches short, thin, lameUiform, non-serrated. Dorsal fin 

 not scaly. Intestines with numerous circumvolutions. 



Fresh or brackish waters of Africa. 



1. Chromis niloticus. 



Bulti, Bolty. 



Labrus niloticus, Hasselqu. p. 392; L. Mm. Ad. Fried, ii. p. 79, and 



Si/sf. Nat. i. p. 477 ; 111. ScJtn. p. 252 ; Lacep. iii. p. 487. 

 Sonnini, p. 396. tab. 27. fig. 1. 

 Labrus melauogaster, Bl. taf. 29G ; Bl. Schn. p. 24G. 

 Chromis niloticus, Cuv. BlHjne Anim. 



»-[fc'r!- ^■^, I^-l^t-33. L.tranBV.A. Vert. -f^:. 



Teeth very small, in several series. Scales below the eye in two 

 series ; sometimes a rudimentary third series below the praeorbital. 

 Snout obtusely conical, with the upper profile oblique. Caudal sub- 

 tnuicated ; the soft dorsal extends to, or nearly to, the middle of the 

 caudal, if laid backwards. The height of the body is contained twice 

 and one-third in the total length (without caudal). 



Nile. 



a-e. Fine specimens. Lower Nile. From Consul Petherick's Col- 

 lection. 

 /. Half-grown. Nile. From Dr. E. Kiippeirs Collection. 

 (J. Fine specimen. Chartoimi. From Consul Petherick's Collection. 

 h. Half-grown : stufted. 



('. Large specimen : skeleton. Nile. From Dr. E. RiippeU's Col- 

 lection. 

 h. Adult female : skeleton. Lower Nile. From Consul Petherick's 

 Collection. 

 Deso'ijytion. — The height of the body is contained twice and a 

 third in the total length (without caudal), the length of the head 

 thrice and a half. The upper profile of the head is slightly concave, 

 descending obliquely downwards. Snout much longer than the eye ; 

 cleft of the mouth shghtly oblique, broad, broader than long. Teeth 

 very small, in four series ; tliere are thirty-five on each side of the 

 front series in the upper jaw. Interorbital space twice as broad as 



* 1. Tilapia rangii, Dumir. Ann. Mua. x. p. Sa.'t. — Gorea. 



2. affinis, Dumir. I. c. — Senegal. 



3. macrocentra, Dinner. I. c. — Senegal. 



4. Labrus finindecim-aculeatiis, Lacep. iii. p. 432. pi. 2-"). lig. 1. — Hub. ? 



