30 MOBMYBIDJE. 



scarcely projecting beyond the mouth ; width of the mouth nearly equal to or less than 

 the length of the snout ; teeth more or less distinctly notched, 20 to 24 in each jaw; 

 eye small, situated in the anterior third of the eye, its diameter twice and a half to 

 three times in length of snout, twice to three times in interocular width. Dorsal fin 

 with 25 to 28 rays, its base three-fifths to two-thirds that of the anal, originating twice 

 to twice and one-fourth as far from the end of the snout as from the root of the caudal 

 fin. Anal fin with 39 to 42 rays, originating considerably in advance of the dorsal, its 

 tenth to twelfth ray corresponding to the first of the latter, and at equal distance from 

 the head and the root of the caudal. Both the dorsal and anal fins deepest in front, 

 but not pointed. Pectoral fin rounded or very obtusely pointed, one-half to three- 

 fifths the length of the head ; ventral about one-third the length of the head. Caudal 

 fin rather small, with rounded lobes, for the greater part covered with scales. Caudal 

 peduncle two-fifths to one-half the length of the head, about twice as long as deep. 

 87 to 96 scales in the lateral line, ^£^ in a transverse series on the body, in front of 

 the ventral fins, j^rnj in a transverse series between dorsal and anal fins, 20 round 

 caudal peduncle. 



Rifaud represents the fish as olive above, reddish flesh-colour below. According 

 to Mr. Loat's notes taken at the village of Sanhur, near Beni Souef, the upper parts 

 are of a dark greyish brown, tinged with green on the head, the lower parts 

 whitish, the whole fish being covered with minute black dots, especially in the dorsal 

 region. 



The largest specimen examined by me measures 310 millimetres. Rifaud figures 

 one 330 millim. in length. 



M. anguilloides is known only from the Nile north of the First Cataract, and does not 

 seem to be found anywhere in great abundance. Geoffroy's specimens were obtained 

 in the Nile near Dendera, and G. Fritsch has recorded it from the Delta. 



This species is represented in the livers of East and West Africa and in Lake Chad 

 by the very closely allied M. deliciosus, Leach, first discovered in the Congo, which 

 differs in its much larger size, measuring up to 1J metres, and in the lower number 

 (16 or 18) of scales round the caudal peduncle. 



The food consists chiefly of small fishes and crustaceans, the larger mouth and the 

 stronger dentition being better suited to predatory habits than is the case in the other 

 Mormyrids of the Nile, Gymnarchvs excepted. 



Several specimens, from Enbabah, have been kept in the Gezira Aquarium. 

 Capt. Flower says they are of very retiring habits and spend most of the day hidden 

 under the rock-work of the tank, only coming out to feed at dusk. 



According to Rifaud the name of the fish is " Gamona " or " lions " (*j*j>). According 

 to Loat it is called " Mmpz " {jvu) at Beni Souef, and " Gum-hurr " (^-tO at Luxor 

 and Assuan. According to Flower it is called " Anooma" by the Cairo fishermen. 



