1901.] FISHES OF THE NIGER DELTA. 5 



species distinct from Oalamichtliys seems to me removed by the 

 fact that I have carefully compared this specimen with others like- 

 wise from the Niger delta, without being able to detect any other 

 important difference. I look upon it as an atavistic individual 

 anomaly. 



MORMYBIDJi:. 



2. ISICHTHYS HEKETI Grill. 



The single specimen is more elongate than any on record, the 

 depth of the body being contained 13 times in the total length, 

 the length of the head 8^ times. D. 53 ; A. 52 ; lat, 1. 140. 

 Total length 210 millim. 



3. Marcfsenius LowaiAKALis, sp. u, (Plate 111. lig. 1.) 



Depth of body 5 to 5| times in total length, length of head 6 to 

 '3| times. Head 1\ as long as deep ; snout convex, ^ length of 

 head, slightly projecting beyond the mouth ; latter small, sub- 

 inferior, below level of eye, its width ^ length of head ; teeth 

 feebly notched, 5 in the upper jaw, 6 in the lower ; nostrils nearly 

 equally distant from end of snout and from eye, anterior on a level 

 with centre of latter, posterior with its lower border ; eye small, 

 ^ length of snout, f interorbital width. Dorsal 15-16, its length \ 

 its distance from the head, originating above 16th or 17th ray of 

 anal. Anal 32-33, thrice as long as dorsal, nearer base of caudal 

 than base of ventral. Pectoral obtusely pointed, a little shorter 

 than head, 1| length of ventral, reaching base of latter. Caudal 

 scaly at the base, with pointed lobes. Caudal peduncle 3| times 

 as long as deep, nearly as long as head. 63 to 'oQ scales in the 

 lateral line, ^-^ in a transverse line on the body, |^ betAveeu dorsal 

 and anal, 12 round caudal peduncle. Purplish brown, more or 

 less profusely speckled with blackish ; fins dark brown. 



Total length 145 millim. 



Two specimens. 



Closely allied to M. hrachyhistius Gill. Distinguished by the 

 more elongate form, the more slender caudal peduncle, the longer 

 anal fin, and the higher number of scales in the lateral line. 



NoiOPTERIDJi. 



4. Notopterus afer Grthr. 



Phraotoljiimid^. 



The highly remarkable fish discovered by Dr. Ansorge, which I 

 here describe under the name of Phracfolcemus cmsorgii, cannot be 

 incorporated into any of the families known at present. It falls 

 into the suborder Malacopterygii as restricted and defined by me ^, 

 and occupies a position intermediate between the Osteorjlossidce and 

 the Clupeidce. The family Phnictolcemidce may be characterized as 

 follows : — 



Mouth edentulous, projectile, bordered by the very slender 

 ' Poissous du Bassiu-clu Congo, p. 44 (1901). 



