83. SYNODONTIS. 213 



grown specimens of uniform coloration, young ones irregularly spotted 

 and banded with brown. 

 Nile ; Senegal ; Zambesi. 



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

 lection. 



c-<l. Half-grown. Lower Nile. 



e,f-i- Young. Lower Nile. Presented by Dr. E. Riippell as S. 

 maculosus. 



/.-, 7, m-o. Adult (20 inches) and young. Chartoum. From Consul 

 Petherick's Collection. 



p. Half-grown. Senegal. 



q-f. Young. West Aft-ica. Purchased of Mr. Stevens. 



s-t. Young. Eiver Rovuma. Presented by Dr. Livingstone. 



M. Half-grown. 



V. Adult female: skeleton. Chartoum. From Consul Petherick's 

 Collection. 



5. Sjm.odontis nebulosus. 



Peters, MS. 



B. 6. D. 1/7. A. 13. P. ^. V. 7. 



Maxillary barbels simple ; skin of the body smooth. ''' Dentibus 

 velutinis iuferioribus nullis ; dentes flexibiles minus numerosi (18), 

 longiores, fortiores." The ventrals occupy the middle between the 

 pectorals and the anal. Body and fins with black spots. (Pet.) 



Mozambique. 



6. Synodontis omias. 



D. 1/7. A. 11. P. 1/8. V. 7. Vert. 10/23. 



The giU-opening extends downwards to before the root of the 

 pectoral fin. Mandibulaiy teeth rather numerous, much shorter 

 than the eye, in a narrow band. MaxiUary barbels longer than tlie 

 head. Nuchal carapace tectiform ; humeral process considerably 

 longer than high, extending backwards to below the base of the 

 dorsal spine ; it is armed with a series of three or four compressed, 

 triangular spinous processes, running along the lower margin of the 

 bone, the last being placed at its extremity. Dorsal spine consider- 

 ably longer than tlie head, serrated behind, but nearly smooth in 

 front, there being only a few obsolete denticulatious towards its point. 

 Pectoral spine strongly serrated along both edges, rather stronger 

 tlum, but not (piite so long as, that of the dorsal fin. The distance 

 between dorsal and adipose fins is less than the length of the base of 

 the foiTuer. Adipose fin somewhat elevated, longer than the head. 



West Africa. 



(/. Skeleton (14 inches long). Purchased of Mr. Dalton. 



The soft parts having been preserved to some extent, I have been 

 enabled to point out the specific characters of this sjiccies, which, 

 moreover, is distinguisliod liy the sjiines of tlic liumeiiil process. 



