274 



CHARACINID.E. 



Boulong. Ann. & Mag. N. H. (7) viii. 1901, p. 513, and Fish, Nile, p. Ul, 



pi. xxii. & pi. xxiii. fig. 1 (1907). 

 Distichodus nefasch, part., Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. xxii. p. 175 (1849). 

 Distichodus rodolphi, Giintli. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1890, p. 223 ; Vincig. Ann. Mus. 



Genova, (2) xix. 1898, p. 258 ; Fowler, Proc. Ac. Pliilad. 1906, p. 467, fig. 



Depth of body 2^ to 3f times in total length, length of head 3^ (young) 

 to 5:1^ times. Head IJ to IJ times as long as deep, If to 2J times as 

 long as broad ; snout rounded, somewhat depressed, projecting more or 

 less beyond mouth, its length less than interorbital width ; diameter of 

 eye 3 (young) to 6 times in length of head, interorbital width 2^ to 3 

 times ; width of mouth 3J to 4-| times in length of head ; teeth in two 

 series in each jaw, outer series containing 24 (young) to 36 ; maxillary 

 extending to below nostrils ; upper surface of head and opercle more or 

 less rugose with radiating strise, Gill-rakers short, 17-20 on lower part 

 of anterior arch. Dorsal 22-26 (3-6 unbranched), equally distant from 

 occiput and from caudal fin, or a little nearer the former; longest rays 



Fijr. 209 



Disticliodus nilotieus. 

 Lower Nile (F. N.). |. • 



f to I length of head. Adipose fin small, nearly equally distant from 

 dorsal and from caudal. Anal 13-15 (3-4 unbranched), its base much 

 shorter than that of anal. Pectoral f to f length of head, as long as or 

 slightly shorter than ventral. Caudal forked, witli rounded lobes. 

 Caudal peduncle as long as deep or slightly deeper than long. Scales 

 90-110 20=^' 15-18 between lateral line and root of ventral. Purplish 

 grey above, silvery white below ; young with 10-13 vertical dark bars 

 on the body, a round blackish spot above the pectoral fin, on or below 

 the lateral line, and another at the base of the caudal fin ; these markings 



