NEMACHILTJS. 275 



longest, nearly three-fourths the length of the head. Anal fin with 9 rays. Caudal 

 fin slightly emarginate. Caudal peduncle once and a half as long as deep. 



Yellowish brown, with irregular dark spots, and a series of ten large transverse dark 

 spots along the back ; a small round black spot on the dorsal fin ; caudal fin with 

 dark spots. 



Total length 40 millimetres. 



The specimen obtained by Mr. Degen at Bahardar, Lake Tsana, on June 3rd, 1902, 

 when fishing with Burberra *, remains unique, and I have nothing to add to the above 

 diagnosis, as originally published, except that minute scales are present and that the 

 principal measurements (in millimetres) are : — 



Total length (without caudal) 35 



Length of head 7 



Width of head 3J 



Length of snout 2\ 



Diameter of eye 1J 



Interorbital width 2 



Width of mouth 2 



Longest ray of dorsal 5 



„ „ anal 3J 



Length of caudal peduncle 6 



Depth of caudal peduncle . 4 



The specimen is probably only half- grown. 



N. abyssinicus differs from its Syrian relatives in the dorsal fin beginning behind the 

 vertical of the root of the ventrals. 



* The seed of a leguminose plant, Berbera ferruginea, Hochet (Millettia ferritginea, Baker), which is used 

 in a pulverized state by the natives for poisoning the fish. Two or three hours are required before the 

 effects of the drug are realized, thousands of fish then rising to the surface dead or in an intoxicated 

 condition. 



2x2 



