594 Mr. G. A. Boulenger on a new West-African Fish. 
form, from which it differs chiefly in the yellowish colour of 
the underparts. 
Al. Everettiisasmall form of H. orientalis, but is markedly 
distinct, owing to the teeth-differences. 
HI. nepalensis much resembles H. orientalis, differing from 
it in being slightly larger. It is practically identical in size 
with H. personata. 
The white tips to the hairs, although a conspicuous feature, 
are, owing to their variability, useless as a specific character. 
They are most noticeable in true personata, and, as a rule, 
entirely absent in nepalensis, orientalis, and Hveretti; in the 
Chinese species, although present, they are of such a tint as 
to be hardly discernible. 
LX.—Description of a new West-African Fish of the 
Genus Alestes. By G. A. Boutencer, F.R.5. 
Alestes brevis. 
Depth of body 23 to 3 times in total length, length of head 
33 to 4i times. Head 12 to 12 as long as broad, 1% to 1} as 
long as deep ; the distance between end of snout and occiput 
not or but slightly exceeding width of head ; snout rounded, 
scarcely projecting beyond the lower jaw, 1 to 13 as long as eye; 
eye lateral, visible from above and from below, its diameter 
8 to 42 times in length of head; adipose eyelid scarcely 
developed; interorbital width } length of head; maxillary not 
reaching to below anterior border of eye; 18 or 20 teeth 
(°) in the upper jaw ; lower border of second suborbital as 
long as or longer than diameter of eye. Gill-rakers rather 
short and thin, 18 to 20 on lower part of anterior arch. 
Dorsal II 8, above middle of space between ventrals and 
anal, considerably nearer caudal than occiput; first branched 
ray longest, ? to ¢ length of head. Adipose fin short, twice 
or twice and a half as far from rayed dorsal as from caudal. 
Anal III 18-15, pointed in front, third simple ray longest, 
2 to 2 length of head, Pectoral nearly as long as head, 
reaching or nearly reaching ventral. Latter shorter. 
Caudal deeply forked. Caudal peduncle not or but slightly 
longer than deep. Scales with numerous anastomosing 
