FISHES. 381 
twice as broad as that of the intermaxillary teeth, with an obtuse 
rounded projection behind in the middle of its concavity. Trans- 
versely the intermaxillary band is wider than the vomerine. The 
mandibulary dental band is as broad as the intermaxillary. Upper 
surface of the head with not very coarse granulations; the length 
of the head is two sevenths of the total, without caudal. The 
maxillary barbel reaches beyond the root of the pectoral, the nasal 
barbel being not quite half its Jength. The pectoral fin extends 
to, or nearly to, the origin of the dorsal, the spine being two thirds 
of the fin. Dorsal fin separated by a short interspace from the 
caudal. 
A single specimen, 45 centim. long, is in the collection, and was 
captured in the middle course of the Shebeli. The breadth of the 
intermaxillary band of teeth is 5 millim., that of the vomerine 
8 millim.; the transverse width of the former is 51, of the latter 
47 millim. A fish captured by Dr. Gregory at Ngatana, and 
enumerated by me under the name of Cartas lazera, is evidently 
of the same species. 
The African species of C/artas are extremely similar in general 
appearance, and most difficult to define, chiefly on account of the 
uncertainty which attaches to almost all the taxonomic characters 
which have been used for distinguishing them. Some of the char- 
acters are certain to undergo considerable changes with age; for 
instance, the vomerine teeth, which are not likely to be granular in 
very young specimens. The presence or absence of a posterior 
process of the vomerine band is a more reliable character, as is 
proved by the series of C. gartepinus in the British Museum. 
Peters (Reise n. Mossambique) was of a different opinion, and has 
attempted to prove the variability of this character; but in my 
view he has confounded two, or even more, species under the name 
of C. mossambicus. 
Two small specimens of C/arias collected on the Shebeli River 
(1 Feb., 1895) are not in sufficiently good condition to be deter- 
mined. The form of the vomerine band is very different from 
that of the fish described as C. smithii. A collection of a large 
series of specimens of all ages of any species of C/arias from the 
same locality is very much needed; but until this is done, it seems 
to be safer to utilize all characters observable in apparently mature 
or nearly mature specimens. 
6. EUTROPIUS DEPRESSIROSTRIS, Ptrs. — Shebeli River. 
