HEMICHEOMIS. 465 



spines in the dorsal fin is nearly always 14 or 15, that of the soft dorsal rays 10 or 11, 

 and of the soft anal rays 8. Out of one hundred and fifty specimens from Gharb-el- 

 Aish, only two have 13 dorsal spines ; one has 9, and one has 12 dorsal soft rays; one 

 has 7 anal soft rays, and four have 9. 



Little is known of the habits of this fish. Eggs or young have never been found 

 in the mouth of any of the very numerous specimens that have been examined. The 

 single example in Capt. Vipan's aquarium showed itself very aggressive towards its 

 companion South-American Cichlids. 



In Algeria, specimens have been ejected from artesian wells in the Sahara, along 

 with Haplochromis desfontainesi, Tilapia zillii, and Cyprinodon fasciatus. 



3o 



