[ 115 ] 



III. On the Breeding-habits of some West-African Fishes, with an Account of the 

 External Features in Development of Protopterus annectens, and a Description 

 of the Larva of Polypterus lapradei. By J. S. Budgett, MA., F.Z.S., Trinity 

 College, Cambridge. 



Eeoeived and read December 4, 1900. 



[Plates X. & XI. and text-figures 19-23.] 



Contents. 



Page 



I. Introduction 115 



II. Eesults of the Search for Pohjpierus Eggs 116 



III. The Habits and Life-history of Protopterus 119 



a. i^esting-habits. 



h. Development of the Embryo. 



IV. The Nesting-habits of Oymnarchus 126 



V. The Nesting-habits of Heterotis nilotieus 128 



VI. The Nesting-habits of Sarcodaces odoe 130 



VII. The Nesting-habits of Hyperopisus hebe 130 



VIII. Conclusion 131 



IX. Explanation of the Plates 132 



I. — Introduction. 



IhE months of June, July, and August of this year I spent on M'Carthy Island, in 

 the river Gambia, hunting for the eggs of Polypterus. But in this paper I have 

 recorded not only the result of my work in this direction, but also my observations 

 upon the breeding-habits of the African Lung-fish, Protopterus annectens, of the 

 Teleosteaiis Gymnarchus nilotieus, Heterotis nilotieus, and Sarcodaces odoe, and also 

 my observations upon the nests of another Teleostean, presumably Hyperopisus behe. 

 Towards the expenses of this expedition I received contributions from the Government 

 Grant, from this Society, and from the Cambridge University Balfour Fund. I should 

 here like to express my gratefulness for this assistance, which enabled me to undertake 

 what turned out to be, so far as I was concerned, an intensely interesting collecting 

 trip. When my results are completed, the expenditure will, I hope, be found to have 

 been justified. 



The Island of M'Carthy is six miles long and about one mile wide, and is situated 

 160 miles up the river Gambia. The whole of the island is low-lying, and the greater 



VOL. XVI. — PART II. No. 5. — Augtist, 1901. s 



