392 Messrs. Playfair and Letoumeux on the 



1 7. Barhus callensis. 



Barhus callensis, Cuv. & Yal. xvi. p. 147; Guicli. Expl. Sc. Alg. Poiss. 

 p. ().{ ; Giinth. Fish. \u. p. 92. 



D. i-, ; A J ; L. lat. 42-48 ; L. transv. j^. 



Four barbels ; no pores or tubercles on snout. Third dorsal 

 ray very sfrony and deeply serrated, much shorter than length 

 of head. Six longitudinal series of scales between the lateral 

 line and root of ventral. Height of body nearly equal to 

 length of head, and rather more than a quarter of the total 

 length without caudal. Eye considerably in advance of mid- 

 dle of head; cleft of mouth subterminal ; upper jaw .slightly 

 the longer; lips thin; anal twice as high as broad. 



Hah. Throughout Algeria. Biver Tajn^ Sjxiin. 



18. Barhus setifensis. 



Barhus setivimemis, Cuv. & Val. xvi. p. 149 ; Guicli. Expl. Sc. Al^r. Pois3. 

 p. 93 ; Gunth. Fish. vii. p. 09. 



D.|; A.J; L. lat. 42 ; L. transv. j^^- 



Four barbels; no pores or tubercles on snout. Third spinous 

 rayfeehle and much less strongly serrated than in B. callensis. 

 Five longitudinal series of scales between lateral line and 

 ventral. Height of body equals length of head, and is con- 

 tained 3 1 times in the total length, without caudal. Eye 

 much in advance of the middle of the head. Lips thick ; 

 upper jaw prominent. Caudal forked, lobes rounded ; anal 

 twice as high as broad. Entire body and tins generally co- 

 vered with a thick mucus. 



Ilah. Setif; artesian wells near the salt lake of Miserguin; 

 ( )ued Tafna ; Bou Farik, near Algiers. 



M. Guichenot* has noted a third barbel {B. longiceps) as 

 existing in Algeria. This species was named by ^I. Valen- 

 cieimes from a specimen brought from the Jordan ; and se- 

 veral examj)le3 from the Lake of Galilee exist in the British 

 Museum. 



M. Guichenot as.serts that it is found in the thermal spring 

 of Hamam Meskoutin, where it lives with the Barhus cal- 

 lensis. AVe have examined a large series .of specimens from 

 that locality, but we have found none which can be identified 

 with the species from Palestine. We have noticed consider- 

 able variations in both tlie Algerian species, especially in the 

 strength and serrature of the third dorsal ray, but we have 

 found one character invariable in each. In B. callensis there 

 are always six longitudinal series of scales between tlie lateral 



* Explor. Scion, de I'Alir. Poiss. p. IM. 



