FISHES. 383 
ing to the root of the pectorals, sparsely provided with fringes. 
Nuchal carapace tectiform, compressed into a median ridge, rather 
pointed behind, its end reaching to below the first soft dorsal ray. 
Humeral spine reaching equally far backward, much longer than 
high, with its upper margin oblique and nearly straight, termi- 
nating ina sharp point. Skin of the side of the body villous. 
Adipose fin moderately long, the interspace between it and the 
dorsal being less than the base of the latter. Dorsal spine short, 
with a sharp anterior edge which shows scarcely a trace of serra- 
ture about the middle of its length, and is probably quite smooth 
in older examples ; this spine is shorter than the pectoral spine, 
which is serrated along both edges and shorter than the distance 
of the foremost part of the soft part of the trunk from the snout. 
Coloration uniform. 
A single specimen, 21 cm. long, was obtained in Lake Stephanie 
on June II, 1895. 
9g. SYNODONTIS SMITHII, sp. n. 
Det ele. Pat 
Rather stout in general habit ; snout comparatively broad, not 
much attenuated in front; diameter of the orbit one half of the 
leneth of the snout, and of the width of the interorbital space. 
The gill-opening extends downward to before the root of the pec- 
toral fin. Mandibulary teeth in a narrow, short series, about 25 
in number, shorter than the eye. The maxillary barbels do not 
reach the end of the humeral spine and are simple ; mandibulary 
barbels reaching to the root of the pectorals, provided with long 
fringes. Nuchal carapace tectiform, compressed into a median 
ridge, rather pointed behind, its end reaching to below the first 
soft dorsal ray. Humeral spine reaching equally far, or even a 
little farther backward, much longer than high, with its upper 
margin oblique, but straight, terminating in a sharp point. Skin 
of the side of the body villous, particularly along the lateral line. 
Adipose fin moderately long, the interspace between it and the 
dorsal being less than the base of the latter. Dorsal spine with a 
sharp, non-serrated anterior edge, equal in length to the pectoral 
spine, which is strongly serrated along both edges, the inner serra- 
ture being coarser than the outer. The length of these spines 
exceeds somewhat the distance of the foremost part of the soft 
part of the trunk from the snout. Coloration uniform. 
7, was obtained. 
A single specimen, 24 cm. long, 
