16. EUTROPITJS. 53 



th« total length (without caudal), the length of the head five times 

 and a half. The greatest width of the head is three-quarters of its 

 length. The upper jaw is considerably longer than the lower ; cleft 

 of the mouth twice as broad as deep. Barbels short and very thin : 

 those of the maxillary are the longest, extending to the end of the 

 head, and twice as long as the posterior mandibulary barbels ; the 

 latter rather longer than nasal barbels ; anterior mandibulary barbels 

 shorter than the eye. Eye covered with a broad circular fold of skin ; 

 its diameter is one-sixth or one-seventh of the length of the head. 

 The ventrals are situated below the hinder half of the dorsal : the 

 bases of both fins are equal in width. Dorsal fin elevated, with a 

 slender spine, slightly serrated posteriorly, and considerably longer 

 than the head ; the first ray is produced into a filament. The anal 

 terminates at some distance from the caudal, which is deeply forked, 

 the length of a lobe being nearly one-sixth of the total. Adipose 

 fin, very small. Pectoral fin elongate, like the dorsal; its spine is 

 slightly serrated towards its extremity, rather stronger than, but as 

 long as, the dorsal spine ; its first ray produced into a filament ; this 

 fin extends beyond the origin of the anal. Teeth in the jaws and 

 on the palate villiform in broadish bands ; the band on the vomer 

 transverse, more or less confluent with those on the palatines. Sides 

 silvery. 



River Congo. 



a. Thirteen inches long. — Type of the species. 



3. Eutropius obtusirostris. 

 D. 1/5. A. 54. P. 1/8. V. 6. 



The height of the body is contained four times and a third in 

 the total length (without caudal), the length of the headfour times 

 and two-thirds. The greatest width of the head is three-fifths of 

 its length. Upper jaw considerably longer than the lower ; cleft of 

 the mouth short, not extending beyond the front margin of the orbit. 

 The nasal barbel and the anterior of the mandibulary barbels are 

 short and thin ; the maxillary barbel as long as the head, the hinder 

 mandibulary barbel more than half as long. Eye without adipose 

 eyelid ; its diameter is somewhat less than one-third of the length of 

 the head. The dorsal fin is situated entirely before the ventral ; its 

 spine is serrated posteriorly, and three-fourths as long as the head. 

 The anal fin terminates at some distance from the caudal, which is 

 deeply forked, the length of a lobe being contained five times and a 

 half in the total. The pectoral spine is strongly serrated interiorly, 

 stronger than, and as long as, that of the dorsal fin, terminating au 

 some distance from the ventral. Ventral fin half as long as the pec- 

 toral. Vomerine teeth in an uninterrupted transverse band, not con- 

 tinuous with the palatine teeth. Silvery, back dark olive. 



India. 



a-b. Three inches long. 



