BABBITS. 



249 



27. BABBUS TRISPILOPLEURA. 



(Plate XLVIL fig. 3.) 



Boulenger, Ann. & Mag. N. H. (7) x. 1902, p. 437. 



Depth of body equal to the length of the head, three and a half times in the total 

 length. Snout rounded, not projecting, four times in the length of the head ; diameter 

 of eye three times in the length of the head, interorbital width twice and a half; 

 mouth terminal, its width four and a half times in the length of the head ; lips 

 feebly developed, not extending across the chin ; barbels two on each side, the anterior 

 two-thirds, the posterior a little longer than the diameter of the eye, the space between 

 them not half the diameter of the eye. Dorsal fin with 111 7-8 rays, last simple ray 

 not ossified, as long as the head ; the border of the fin not emarginate ; origin of the 

 fin slightly nearer the end of the snout than the root of the caudal fin. Anal fin 

 with III 5 rays, longest three-fifths to two-thirds length of head. Pectoral fin acutely 

 pointed, two-thirds the length of the head, not reaching the ventral ; latter below 

 anterior rays of dorsal. Caudal fin deeply forked. Caudal peduncle once and a half 

 to once and two-thirds as long as deep. Scales smooth, 27-23 |f, 2 between lateral 

 line and ventral, 12 round caudal peduncle. 



Brownish above, silvery on the sides and below ; three round black spots on each 

 side of the body, the first and second above the lateral line, the third on the lateral 

 line at the base of the caudal ; fins greyish. 



Measurements (in millimetres). 



Total length 45 



„ „ (without caudal) 41 



Greatest depth 12 



Length of head 12 



Width of head 6 



Length of snout 3 



Diameter of eye 4 



Interorbital width 4|- 



Longest ray of dorsal . 11 



„ anal 7 



This species is founded on three specimens obtained by Mr. E. Degen at 

 Bahardar, Lake Tsana, June 4th, 1902. The fish resembles the South-east-African 

 B. trimaculatus, Peters, in general appearance, but the scales are fewer, the last 

 unbranched dorsal ray is weak, and the barbels are shorter. The more elongate 

 shape distinguishes it from JB. perince, its nearest ally. 



2 k 



