Me Oe 
iyi eee 
ee ae ese daed (2 lina a kN aa ng i a 
ees esa iy . 
from the Gaboon and Gold Coast. 113 
one-third of that of the head, and more than that of the snout 
or the width of the interorbital space. Head low, elongate, flat 
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 Characinide, but also because it throws light upon the fish 
from the Nile which was described by Joannis in Guérin’s Mag. 
Zool. 1835 (Ginth. Fish. v. p. 379) as Coregonus 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 Nannocharaz niloticus to be identical with the 
West-African species. 
The figure is double the natural size. 
Alestes macrophthalmus, 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). Hye 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 teniurus, sp. 0. 
D.10. A.19. LL. lat. 23. LL. transv. 43/3}. 
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 the end of the 
dorsal fin. 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. xx. 8 
