VARIOOEHINUS. 191 



fifth is represented in Africa by V. maroccanus, Gthr. (D. Ill 10-11 ; Sq. 45-46 j|). 

 The other species of the genus, about twelve in number, are from South-western Asia. 



The rays of the pectoral fin vary from 17 to 19, those of the ventral fin number 

 10 or 11 (8 or 9 of which are branched). The gill-rakers are short and numerous 

 (20 to 30 on lower part of anterior arch). The pharyngeal teeth of V. beso are quite 

 similar to those of a Barbies, whilst those of V. maroccanus are closely packed, their 

 crowns forming together a triturating surface as in Labeo ; in this respect V. capoeta 

 and V. tanganicce are intermediate between the two extremes. In the specimens 

 examined by me there are 2, 3, 5 teeth on each side in V. beso and V. tanganicce, 

 2, 3, 4 in V. capoeta and V. maroccanus. 



The skull is massive and very similar to that of Labeo ; the supraorbital bone is 

 likewise widely separated from the postorbitals. The prsemaxillaries are devoid of 

 ascending processes, and covered to a great extent by the large maxillaries ; the dentary 

 bones are bent at an angle and emit an upward process at the symphysis. The clavicles 

 and coracoids are moderately developed, and do not form a diaphragm as in Labeo. 

 The number of vertebrae is as follows in the three species examined : — 



V.beso 22 + 19 = 41 



V. capoeta 27 + 21 = 48 



V. tanganicce 25 + 19=44 



The digestive tract is very elongate and forms numerous convolutions, as in Labeo. 

 Its length in V. beso is nearly ten times that of the whole fish. Horny tubercles are 

 present on the snout, and sometimes on the sides of the head below the eyes, in all 

 the species, at least during the breeding-season. 



1. VAPICORHINUS BESO. 

 (Plate XXXIII.) 



VaricorUnus beso, Riippell, Mus. Senckenb. ii. p. 21, pi. iii. fig. 2 (1837) ; Boulenger, Ann. & Mag. 



N. H. (7) x. 1902, p. 422. 

 Chondrostoma dillonii, Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Poiss. xvii. p. 404 (1844). 

 Labeo varicorhinus, Cuvier & Valenciennes, t. c. p. 491. 

 Dillonia dillonii, Heckel, Russegger's Reise Egypt, iii. p. 285 (1846) ; Vincio-uerra, Ann. Mus. 



Genova, xviii. 1883, p. 699. 

 Systomus beso, Heckel, t. c. p. 328. 

 Dillonia abyssinica, Heckel, t. c. p. 329. 



Capoeta dillonii, Giinther, Cat. Fish. vii. p. 81 (1868) ; Blanford, Geol. & Zool. Abyss, p. 460 (1870). 

 Barbus beso, Gunther, t. c. p. 148. 

 Capoeta beso, Pellegrin, Bull. Mus. Paris, 1905, p. 291. 



Body strongly compressed, its greatest depth three to three and a half times in total 



