14S CHAEACIMDiE. 



4. DISTICHODUS ENGYOEPHALUS. 

 (Plate XXIV. fig. 2.) 



Giinther, Cat. Fish. v. p. 361 (1864), and Petherick's Trav. ii. p. 247 (1869) • 

 Boulenger, Ann. & Mag. N. H. (7) viii. 1901, p. 513. 



Depth of body twice and two-fifths to three times in the total length, length of head 

 four to five times. Head but little longer than deep, twice to twice and a half as long 

 as broad; snout feebly compressed, projecting very strongly beyond the mouth, its 

 length equal to, or slightly less than, the interorbital width ; diameter of the eye three 

 (young) to five times in the length of the head, interorbital width twice and a half to 

 three and a half times ; mouth straight, its width five to six times in the length of the 

 head; teeth in two series in each jaw, the outer series containing 18 to 22 teeth; 

 maxillary extending to below the nostrils ; upper surface of head nearly smooth. Gill- 

 rakers short, 15 to 18 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal fin with 23 or 24 rays, 

 4 or 5 of which are unbranched, equally distant from the occiput and from the root of 

 the caudal fin, longest rays as long as the head, or a little shorter. Adipose fin small, 

 equally distant from the rayed dorsal and from the caudal. Anal fin with 13 or 

 14 rays, 3 or 4 of wdiich are unbranched; longest ray one-half to four-fifths the length 

 of the head, not reaching the root of the caudal fin. Pectoral fin two-thirds to four- 

 fifths the length of the head, as long as the ventral. Caudal fin forked, with acutely 

 pointed lobes. Caudal peduncle as long as deep or a little deeper than long. Scales 

 75-85 16^17' H or 12 between the lateral line and the ventral fin. 



Brown above (in spirit), silvery white below ; sides with numerous round dark spots, 

 disposed irregularly ; dorsal fin with more or less distinct dark spots, which may form 

 transverse series ; young with a round dark spot at the root of the caudal fin. 



Total length 270 millimetres. 



This species is represented in the collection before me by a few specimens obtained 

 in the Nile, in the Blue Nile, and in the Niger Delta : — 



1 Nile at Cairo.— Loat, 15.6.00. 



1 Kosheh, Nubia, in a pool left by receding Nile. — Loat, 14.4.00. 



2 Khartum.— Petherick, 1862. (Types.) 

 1 Sennar, Blue Nile.— Loat, 22.10.01. 



1 Wad Medine, Blue Nile.— Loat, 10.01. 

 1 Abo, Lower Niger. — Dr. Ansorge, 1902. 

 1 Agberi, Lower Niger. — Dr. Ansorge, 1902. 



Specimens were also obtained at Mongalla, opposite Lado, by Dr. Werner. 

 According to Mr. Loat, the fish is called " leffash " at Cairo, " lissan " at Sennar, 

 " teen narkar " {Jty ^) in Nubia, " lieraslia" (Ul^J at Omdurman. 



