442 Dr. A. Giinther on new Species of FisJies 



is two-fifths of the total length (without caudal), the length of 

 the head two-sevenths ; the greatest width of the head is two- 

 fifths of its length. The spinous dorsal fin is rather elevated, 

 the length of the posterior spines being somewhat more than 

 one-half of that of the head. Young specimens have the middle 

 soft rays of the dorsal and anal produced into a filament. Yel- 

 lowish brown, each scale with a brown central dot and brown 

 margin ; a blackish band along the middle of the side, continued 

 on the caudal fin, where it encloses numerous round white spots ; 

 no black spot on the tail. Upper side of the head with nume- 

 rous brown dots ] a blackish, white-edged band between the eye 

 and the cleft of the mouth; another blackish band descends 

 from the eye to the angle of the prseoperculum, and is more 

 distinct in young examples than in old ones ; an orange-coloured 

 spot behind the eve. Dorsal fin blackish, with numerous small 

 whitish spots. 



The largest specimen is 4 inches long. 



Pimelodus holomelas. 

 D. 1/6. A. 9-10. P. 1/8. V. 6. 



Head covered with skin above ; occipital process triangular, 

 considerably longer than broad, not reaching the basal bone of 

 the dorsal spine. Adipous fin very long, its length being con- 

 tained twice and a fourth or twice and a fifth in the total (with- 

 out caudal) ; it commences at a short distance from the dorsal. 

 Maxillary barbels extending beyond the commencement or to 

 the middle of the adipous fin, the outer ones of the mandible to 

 the middle of the pectoral. 



The height of the body is contained five times and a half or 

 five times and two-thirds in the total length (without caudal), 

 the length of the head four times. The lower jaw is distinctly 

 shorter than the upper; the band of intermaxillary teeth is 

 seven times as broad as long. The diameter of the eye is 

 one-half of the width of the interorbital space. No porus 

 axillaris. Dorsal fin with the spine very feeble, scarcely higher 

 than long. Pectoral spine serrated along both edges, as long- 

 as the head without snout. Caudal fin cleft to the base. Uni- 

 form black, with a brownish shade, somewhat lighter on the 

 belly. 



Auchenipterus obscurus. 



D. 1/5. A. 19-20. P. 7-8. V. 9. 



The bones of the head and neck are rather coarsely granu- 

 lated ; a small, round groove between the frontals, surrounded 

 by bone. Lower jaw rather longer than the upper ; the maxil- 

 lary and the hinder mandibulary barbels extend to, or somewhat 



