1896.] FISHES MA DE BY DE. A. D.SMITH. 219 



4. Ohhomis spilubus, Giinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1894, p. 89. 

 This species was discovered by Dr. Gregory in pools remaining 



in dried-up watercourses of North Giriama. Dr. Donaldson Smith 

 found this species (30.12.94) under similar conditions near the 

 Shebeli Eiver, and (8.12.94) in water-boles near Sheikh Hnsein. 

 All the specimens, those collected by Dr. Gregory as well as by 

 Dr. D. Smith, are small, not exceeding 12 cm. in length. 



5. Clakias smithii, sp. n. 



Clariaa lazera, Giinth. P. Z. S. 1894, p. 89 (nee C. V.). 

 D. 70-73. A. 58-62. V. 1/9. 



Vomerine teeth (Fig. 1) granular, forming a very broad band, 

 nearly twice as broad as that of the intermaxillary teeth, with an 

 obtuse, rounded projection behind in the middle of its concavity. 

 Transversely the intermaxillary band is wider than the vomerine. 

 The mandibulary dental band is as broad as the intermaxillary. 

 Upper surface of the head with not very coarse granulations ; the 

 length of the head is two sevenths of the total, without caudal. 

 The maxillary barbel reaches beyond the root of the pectoral, the 

 nasal barbel being not quite half its length. The pectoral fin 

 extends to, or nearly to, the origin of the dorsal, the spine being 

 two thirds of the fin. Dorsal fin separated by a short interspace 

 from the caudal. 



Kg. 1. 



Teeth of Clariat smithii. 



A single specimen, 45 centim. long, is in the collection, and was 

 captureii in the middle course of the Shebeli. The breadth of the 

 intermaxillary band of teeth is 5 millim., that of the vomerine 

 8 millim. ; the transverse width of the former is 51, of the latter 

 47 millim. A fish captured by Dr. Gregory at Ngatana, and 

 enumerated by me under the name of Clarias lazera, is evidently 

 of the same species. 



The African species of Clarias ai'e extremely similar in general 

 appearance and most difficult to define, chiefly on account of the 

 uncertainty which attaches to almost all the taxonomic characters 

 which have been used for distinguishing them. Some of the 

 characters are certain to undergo considerable changes with age, 

 for instance the vomerine teeth, which are not likely to be granular 

 in very young specimens. The presence or absence of a posterior 

 process of the vomerine band is a more reliable character, as is 



