CLAKOTES. 343 



3 Mureji, N. Nigeria.— Budgett, 1903. 



1 Oguta, S. Nigeria. — Dr. Ansorge, 1902. 



2 Abo. S. Nigeria. — Dr. Ansorge, 1902. 



This fine series conclusively proves the correctness of Dr. Gii other's view as regards 

 the changes that take place with age and the identity of Kner's Clarotes heuglini with 

 Ruppell's Pimelodus laticeps. It also shows the identity of the Senegalese JBagrus 

 nigrita, which had been erroneously referred to the synonymy of Chrysichthys cranchii 

 by Giinther and by Steindachner, with the Nile species. 



Clarotes heuglini was founded on an abnormal specimen with the snout bent down at 

 an angle to the top of head ; a somewhat similar malformation in Clarias lazera has 

 been noticed above (p. 291, fig. 26), and I have observed others in Bagrus doemac and 

 in Synodontis schall. This abnormal specimen has a curious history : it was found in 

 damp sand a few miles from Khartum and brought to the Austrian Consul von Heuglin 

 alive, and is said to have lived in his garden for three days out of the water and exposed 

 to the sun. There is no doubt much exaggeration in this statement, however great 

 the vitality of Cat-fishes as a rule, for an investigation of the anatomical structure of 

 Clarotes * has revealed no adaptation to terrestrial life, such as is known in Clarias 

 and Saccobranchus. 



The food consists of fishes, crustaceans, and molluscs. The stomach of a small 

 specimen from Omdurman was full of bivalves, which have been determined by 

 Mr. E. A. Smith as Unio wgyptiacus, Caill., Unto sp., Corbicula radiata, Parreyss, 

 and Cleopatra bulimoides, Oliv. 



As for Chrysichthys auratus, the native name at Khartum is " Abu Mesaeka." 

 According to Mr. Loat, it is also called "barm'saker" or " barmesaker " ( L»« [>) at 

 Omdurman. 



* Hyrtl, Z. c. 



