from the Gaboon and Gold Coast. 113 



one-tliird of that of the heacl, and more than that of the snout 

 or the width of the interorbital space. Head low, elongate, fiat 

 above ; snout subconical, the upper jaw somewhat longer than 

 the lower. Ventral fin below the anterior dorsal rays, long, 

 pointed ; the third ray is the longest, extending to the vent. 

 The distance of the origin of the dorsal fin from the end of the 

 snout is somewhat more than that from the adipose fin. Back 

 with seven rhombic brown spots, lighter in the centre ; sides with 

 about ten brown cross bars broader than the interspaces between. 



Gaboon, 2 inches long. 



This discovery of Mr. Walker is of the greatest interest, not 

 only because the fish is the type of a distinct group of the family 

 of Characinidce, but also because it throws light upon the fish 

 fi'om the Nile which was described by Joannis in Guerin's Mag. 

 Zool. 1835 (Giinth. Fish. v. p. 379) as Coi-egonus niloticus, and 

 which has ever since been a riddle to ichthyologists. There can- 

 not be the slightest doubt of the affinity of these two fishes, 

 although Joannis (who had no experience whatever in the de- 

 scription of fishes) states that his fish is toothless. The affinity 

 between the two fishes is so great that the differences which at 

 present appear on comparing the descriptions may prove to be 

 accidental, and the Nannocharax niloticus to be identical with the 

 West-African species. 



The figure is double the natural size. 



Alestes macrophtlialmus, sp. n. 

 D. 10. A. 21. L. lat. 39. L. transv. 11. 



Closely allied to A. sethente, but with larger scales. The 

 height of the body equals the length of the head, and is two- 

 ninths of the total length (without caudal). Eye very large, 

 scarcely less than one-third of the length of the head, with broad 

 adipose eyelids. The origin of the dorsal fin is exactly oppo- 

 site to that of the ventral. Pectoral not much shorter than the 

 head. Silvery, a blackish stripe along each series of scales ; 

 pectoral blackish. 



Gaboon. 11 inches long. 



Alestes tceniurus, sp, n. 

 D. 10. A. 19. L. lat. 23. L. transv. 4i/3i. 



Closely allied to A. acutidens, but with the body more elevated, 

 its depth being more than one-third of the total length (without 

 caudal). The origin of the dorsal fin is a little behind the base 

 of the ventral. A narrow deep-black band runs along the middle 

 of the tail and caudal fin, commencing below tlie end of the 

 dorsal fin. 



Ann. ^' Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol xx. 8 



