458 



SEEEANID^E. 



" In a few of the largest fish, a slit had been made along the ventral surface of the 

 body, and the cavity was stuffed with ashes. 



"The greater number of the fish were Lates niloticus, sometimes known by the name 

 of the Nile Perch; a few specimens of three other well-known Nile species were also 

 found, but in no case were different species placed together in the same pit. A few 

 specimens were found wrapped in cloth." 



In 1899, I was shown by Mr. E. Towry Whyte a bronze model, 115 millimetres long, 

 which at once suggested to me a young Lates niloticus. This model contained a 

 mummy of a small fish, the loose bones of which I have been able to examine and to 

 identify as those of a young Lates *. 



Dr. J. Pellegrinf has also reported on mummies of this fish obtained by M. Chantre 

 in Upper Egypt. 



Paintings of Lates niloticus occur on the south wall of Medum % and in the tombs of 

 Deir el Gebrawi §, whilst an unmistakable representation of the fish is seen on Greek 

 coins of Latopolis, 2000 B.C. ||. 



* Mr. Towry Whyte has recorded this interesting object in Proc. Soc. Bibl. Archseol. xxi. 1899, p. 82, 

 with a figure of the bronze. 



t Bull. Mus. Paris, 1900, p. 175. 



t Cf. Flinders Petrie, Medum (London, 1902, 4to), pi. xii. 



§ Cf N. de Gr. Davis, Deir el Gebrawi (London, 1902, 4to), i. pis. iii., iv., v., and ii. pi. v. 



|| Cf. Bussegger's Beise Egypt, iii. p. 320, fig. (Stuttgart, 1846, 8vo). 



