1. CLARIAS. 15 



third of the length of the head, and those of the maxUlaries extending 

 to or beyond the root of the pectoral. The pectoral fin reaches some- 

 what bej'ond the vertical from the origin of the dorsal, and the length 

 of its spine is three-quarters of that of the fin. 



Port Natal. (Cape of Good Hope ?) 

 (I. Twenty-five inches long: stuffed. Port Natal. From Sir A. 



Smith's Collection. 

 /', c. Very fine specimens. Port Natal. Purchased of Mr. Th. 

 Ayres. 



We very much doubt whether our specimens belong to the same 

 species as C. capens'is, C. & V. The latter is said to have seventy-six 

 dorsal and eleven pectoral rays, and the vomerine teeth disposed in 

 two small, distinct, cui'ved bands ; moreover the typical specimen is 

 from the Cape of Good Hope. We have also a stuffed specimen from 

 the Cape ; it has seventy- six dorsal rays, but the vomerine teeth 

 arranged in the same manner as in our specimens from Port Natal. 



3. Clarias parvimanus. 

 D. 76. A. 57. P. 1/8. 



Vomerine teeth villiform, those in the middle of the band conical. 

 The band of vomerine teeth is in its middle rather broader than 

 that of the intermaxillaries ; it has a very short process in the middle 

 of its concavity. Head rather finely granulated above, its length 

 being one-foiu'th of the total. Barbels slender, those of the nostril 

 one-third as long as the head, those of the maxillary shorter than 

 the head. The pectoral fin does not extend to the vertical from the 

 origin of the dorsal ; its spine is short, not quite tWo-thirds as long 

 as the fin. The dorsal does not extend on to the root of the caudal. 



Nile. 



a. Twelve inches long. From Dr. E. Riippell's Collection as Ckirias 

 hasselquistii. 



4. Clarias orontis. 



Silurus anguillaris, Russell, Nat. Hist. Alqip. ii. p. -17. pi. 8 (noiL.). 

 Clarias, Gronov. Zoophyl. p. 100. 



D. 74. A. 54. P. 1/10. 



Vomerine teeth very small, subconical, forming a band, which is 

 equal in width to that of the intermaxillaries ; it has a very short and 

 obtuse process behind, in the middle of its concavity. Head densely 

 granulated above, its length being a little less than one-fourth of the 

 total. Barbels long, those of the maxillaries being twice as long as 

 the nasal, and as long as the head. The pectoral fin extends to the 

 vertical from the origin of the dorsal fin ; the length of its spine is 

 three-fourths of that of the fin. 



Eiver Orontes. 



a. Seventeen and a half inches long. From A. Enssoll's Collection. 



