85. PELOTKOPHUS. 



321 



Mouth oblique, ■wide, the maxillary extending beyond the vertical 

 from the centre of the eye. Infraorbital bones very broad, espe- 

 cially the third, -which is verj' largo, although it does not quite reach 

 the prffiopercular margin. The last dorsal ray is vertically above 

 the origin of the anal fin. The last six or eight anal rays are short, 



only half as long as the ray preceding them. Caudal deeply forked. 

 Pectoral long, shorter than the head, and not reaching the root of 

 the ventrals. Scales thin, with numerous radiating stria;. There 

 are six longitudinal series of scales between the lateral line and the 

 root of the ventral fin. Uniform silvery. 

 Lake Nyassa. 



a. Skin, 20 inches long, type of the species. Presented by Dr. Kii-k. 

 />. Skin, young. Presented by Dr. Kirk. 



2. Pelotrophus microcephalus. 



Giinth. I. c. 



D. 13. A. 19. Y. 9-10. L. lat. 47. L. transv. 9/5. 



The height of the body is a little more than the length of the head, 

 which is two-elevenths of the total (-without caudal). The diameter 

 of the eye is one-fifth (in young examples) or one-eighth (in old 

 ones) of the length of the head, and about one-half of that of the 

 snout. Mouth oblique, rather wide, the maxillary extending some- 

 what behind the vertical from the centre of the eye. Infraorbital 

 bones not reaching the prasopercular margin. The last dorsal ray is 

 vertically above the anterior anal rays. The last six anal rays verj' 

 short ; caudal fin deeply forked. Pectoral fin of moderate length, 

 nearly as long as the head, terminating at a great distance from the 

 ventral. Scales rather thin, with numerous radiating striae. There are 

 two longitudinal series of scales between the lateral line and the root 

 of the ventral fin. The cutaneous sheath of each scale blackish. 



Lake Nyassa. 

 a. Skin, 15 inches long, type of the species. Presented by Dr. Kirk. 

 b-c. Skins, 11-14 inches long. Presented by Dr. Kirk. 



VOL. VII. r 



