from the Kicniujo llicer^ Aiujuhi. 1 1 I 



Vartcorhuiua Ansor/jii, s|». ii. 



Body strongly comprcsscc], its depth twico and ;^ in total 

 len^'tli ; len<ri|i of head 5 times in total length. Snout 

 rounded, broader tlian lonf^, .^ length of head; oye supero- 

 lateral, its diameter 5^ times in leiifj^th of head, twice in infer- 

 orhital width ; no conical tubercles on the head ; mouth wide, 

 curved, its width V' len2[th of head ; two barbels on each side, 

 anterior jj diameter of eye, posterior as lontr as eye. Dorsal 

 IV 9, last simple ray slron'jf, bony, not serrated, shorter than 

 head ; border of fin convex ; longest soft rays as long as 

 head. Anal HI 5, reaching root of caudal. Pectoral 

 pointed, as long as head, not reaching ventral, which is 

 situated below anterior rays of dorsal. Caudal peduncle as 

 long as deep. Scales 20 ^', 2 between lateral line and root of 

 ventral, 12 round caudal peduncle. 



Dr. Ansorge describes the coloration when fre^li as pil.^ 

 mauve above, scales edged with bluish grey, greyish wliite 

 beneath ; fins all pale mauve, with dark mauve striae; iris 

 greyish mauve, with a narrow orange-golden circle round the 

 pupil. 



A single specimen, measuring 300 mm. Native name : 

 Kimneicu. 



The Cyprinid genus Van'corlinuis, Ruj)pell, 1837 { = DiI~ 

 louia, Heckel, 18iG), which should embrace Plerocapo'eta of 

 Gunther and the typical Capoeta of the same author, may be 

 regarded as nearly intermediate between Laheo and DarbuSy 

 being distinguished from the first by the absence of both 

 upper and luwer lips, from the second by the absence of 

 upper lip. Some species of Barbus, however, including the 

 tyj)ical Svaphiodon of lleckel, approach Varicorhinus very 

 closely. As here defined, the genus contains only four 

 African species, which may be contrasted as follows : — 



1. V. Ansorgii, Blgr. — Two pairs of barbels; last sim[)lo 

 ray of dorsal strong and ossified. Sq. 29 ^i. 



'2. V. beso, Rupp. — One pair of barbels; last simple ray 

 of dorsal strong and ossified. Sq. o0-35 J^^. 



3. V. tanganiccn, Blgr. — One pair of barbels; last simple 



ray of dorsal strong and ossified. Sq. 68-70 \\\z^,. 



4. V. inaroccnnusj Gthr. — One pair of barbels; last simple 



ray of dorsal feeble and flexible. Sq. 4.3-10 „'. 



