1893.] FISBLES i'ROM BRITISH CENTRAL AfBICA. 621 



about its identity with a well-preserved example iu the Nyasa 

 collection. 



Cheomis squamipinnis. (Plate LIII. ad. et jr.) 

 Chromls squamipinnis, Giinth. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 311. 



Teeth very small, notched, brown at the tip, with the inner cusp 

 longest ; in young specimens about thirty-four, in old ones about 

 forty on each side of the outer series of the upper jaw. Scales 

 below the eye in two series ; those of the body smooth and not 

 ciliated. Forehead broad, flattish, its width being much more than 

 the diameter of the eye. In old specimens the horizontal width 

 of the prajorbital equals the diameter of the eye, but is much less 

 in young ones. The scaly part of the cheek is narrow, much 

 narrower than the orbit. The two limbs of the praaoperculum 

 meet at a right angle. The height of the body is two fifths of the 

 total length without caudal, the length of the liead one tliird. The 

 length of the longest dorsal spine equal to that of the postorbital 

 portion of the head. Pectoral fin long, somerimes extending 

 beyond the middle of the anal. Caudal densely covered with 

 minute scales, which are visible even in young specimens. (Ireenish, 

 shining silvery, with six or seven irregular black cross-bauds, the 

 foremost in the middle of the neck, the last on the free portion of 

 the tail ; the band below the origin of the soft dorsal is frequently 

 continued into a spot on that fin. 



This species seems to be the most common. I first described it 

 from skins collected by Sir John Kirk, of which the largest was 

 12 inches long ; Mr. Whyte now sends some specimens from 3 to 

 4 inches long. 



The figure of the adult specimen is reduced to | the natural size. 



Cheomis suboculaeis. (Plate LIV. fig. B.) 



D. -jy. A. g. L. lat. 30. L. transv. ^. 



Teeth deeply bicuspid, with the inner cusp longest ; brown at 

 the tip in a specimen 4| inches long ; twenty-three on each side of 

 the outer series of the upper jaw. Scales below the eye in three 

 series. The diameter of the eye exceeds the width of the prseorbital 

 and the width of the interorbital space, which is flat, but is nearly 

 equal to the depth of the scaly portion of the cheek. The two 

 limbs of the prseoperculum meet at nearly a right angle. The 

 height of the body is nearly equal to the length of the head and 

 one third of the total without caudal ; the longest dorsal spine is 

 the last, and less than one half of the length of the head. Pectoral 

 fin extending to the origin of the anal. Scales smooth. Body with 

 seven blackish cross-bands, which are rather irregular and do not 

 descend to the lower half of the body ; the first is in front of the 

 dorsal and the last two on the caudal peduncle ; a short black 



