290 siLUEnm 



the very young), reaching the extremity of the pectoral spine or a little beyond the 

 extremity of the pectoral fin ; outer mandibular barbel once and one-fifth to once and 

 two-thirds as long as inner, which measures two-fifths to three-fifths the length of the 

 head. Gill-rakers long and closely set, 35 (very young) to 135 on anterior arch. 

 Clavicles striated or rugose with granulations, more or less distinct under the thin 

 skin. Dorsal fin with 62 to 82 rays, its distance from the occipital process one-seventh 

 to one-fourth the length of the head, its distance from the caudal fin not greater than 

 the diameter of the eye*. Anal fin with 50 to 65 rays, narrowly separated from the 

 caudal fin. Pectoral fin two-fifths to one-half the length of the head, the spine 

 serrated on the outer side and three-fifths (young) to three-fourths the length of the 

 fin. Ventral fin shorter, equally distant from the end of the snout and the root of 

 the caudal fin, or a little nearer the former. Caudal fin rounded, about half the 

 length of the head. 



Greyish olive or olive-brown to blackish above, uniform or marbled with lighter, 

 white or greyish beneath ; vertical fins dark, often with a yellowish edge ; usually a 

 more or less distinct dark band on each side of the lower surface of the head. Young 

 specimens often have a dark bar, edged with yellowish in front and behind, across the 

 caudal fin. Black spots are sometimes present on the caudal fin. Iris bronzy, with a 

 gold circle round the pupil. 



The largest specimen examined by me, from Giza near Cairo, presented to the 

 British Museum by Capt. S. S. Flower, measures 1170 millimetres. It is, I think, 

 the largest on record. The largest specimen seen by Mr. Loat in Egypt measured 

 1060 millimetres. 



Clarias lazera has a very wide distribution, being known from Syria, the Nile, Lakes 

 Albert and Albert Edward, the basins of Lake Abaia and Lake Chad, the Senegal, 

 the Niger, and the Congo ; also Lake Ngami, should Castelnau's Clarias ngamensis 

 prove to be identical with C. lazera. 



List of specimens examined : — 



1 Orontes. — Alex. Russell, 1756. (Type o£ C> orontis.) 



4 Lake of Galilee. — Canon Tristram, 1864. 



5 Bahr-el-Tawilah, in a freshwater canal running into L. Menzaleh. — Loat, 26.6.99. 

 8 Near Ghet-el-Nassara, L. Menzaleh, in freshwater pool. — Loat, 3-11.6.99. 



19 Near Damietta, in freshwater pool.— Loat, 1.6.99. 



2 Nile near Cairo.— Loat, 11-28.3.99. 



2 Giza.-Capt. Flower, 25.2.99, 22.2.04. 



15 Beni Souef, Fayum.— Loat, 11.8.99-17.9.99. 



1 Birket Karun, Fayum.— Loat, 29.9.99. 



5 Bahr Selah, Fayum.— Loat, 5.10.99. 



* I have noticed an exception in a young specimen from Giza, in which the distance between the dorsal 

 and caudal fins equals two diameters of the eye ; but this may be due to a mutilation. 



