1871.] IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 667 



length of the head. Caudal fin rounded. Greyish (in spirits), head 

 and body densely covered with deep-black spots about as large as 

 the eye ; an immaculate stripe along the uppermost part of the back 

 and the base of the anal. A series of round black spots along the 

 base of the dorsal and anal fins ; caudal fin nearly without markings. 



One specimen, 2| inches long (no. 67), from the Godeffroy Mu- 

 seum ; it was obtained at Savay (Samoa Islands). 



Platyglossus notopsis, Blkr. 



We have received from the Godeffroy Museum a specimen from 

 Savay of a uniform black colour ; however, the two ocelli on the 

 dorsal fin are present, and it has also thirteen soft dorsal rays, so 

 that it must be regarded as merely a variety. 



Hemichromis subocellatus. (Plate LXVII. fig. C.) 

 D. y. A. f. L. lat. 25. L. transv. 2|/10. 



The height of the body is two sevenths or one third of the total 

 length (without caudal), the length of the head one third. Snout 

 as long as the eye, the maxillary extending to the vertical from the 

 front margin of the orbit. Three series of scales on the cheek. 

 Front teeth of the upper jaw not enlarged. The spinous dorsal fin 

 is rather low, the longest spine being not much more than one third 

 of the length of the head. The soft dorsal and anal sometimes pro- 

 duced into a filament. Brown, operculum with an indistinct black- 

 ish spot. The following ocellated spots may be present or absent : — 

 one on the middle of the anterior soft dorsal rays, and one or two 

 on the upper caudal rays. The remainder of the caudal and the anal 

 blackish, with yellowish specks. 



Gaboon. Three specimens, 2| inches long, are in the possession 

 of the author, and will be deposited in the British Museum. 



Blennodesmus, g. n. Lycodid. 



Body elongate, compressed, band-like, rudimentary scales being 

 imbedded in the mucous integuments of the body. Lateral line 

 rather indistinct. Eye of moderate size. Head compressed, with 

 the snout pointed and the lower jaw prominent. Small conical teeth 

 in both jaws ; palate smooth. Barbels none. Gill-openings and 

 vertical fins as in the other genera of this family. Ventral fins re- 

 duced to two small and short filaments, jugular. No prominent 

 anal papilla. 



Blennodesmus scapularis. (Plate LXVII. fig. A.) 



D.+ C. + A. 50 + 9 + 40. V. I. 



The height of the body is one twelfth of the total length (without 

 caudal), the length of the head one seventh. Interorbital space 

 convex, much narrower than the eye, the diameter of which is one 

 fifth of the length of the head ; snout pointed, compressed, rather 

 longer than the eye. The maxillary extends beyond the front mar- 



