10 



POLYPTEEID^. 



4. POLYPTERUS ENDLICHERI. 



Meckel, Russegger's Reise Egypt, iii. p. 310, pi. xxii. fig. 1 (1849) ; A. Dum. 

 Hist. Poiss. ii. p. 393, pi. xxiii. fig. 3 (1870) ; Steind. Denkschr. Ak. Wien, 

 xliv. 1882, p. 52, pis. viii. & ix. fig. 2 ; Bouleng. Ann. & Mag. X. H. (7) ii. 

 1898, p. 418, and Proc. Zool. Soc. 1902, i. p. 124, pi. xi. fig. 2 ; Werner, 

 Zool. Jahrb., Syst. xxi. 1904, p. 271, and Sitzb. Ak. Wien, cxv. i. 1906, 

 p. 1118 ; Bouleng. Fish. Nile, p. 9, pi. ii. (1907). 



Polypterus senegalensis, part., Gunth. Petherick's Trav. ii. p. 268 (1869). 



Foh/pterus bichir, part., Giinth. Cat. Fish. viii. p. 326 (1870). 



Body more or less distinctly flattened, at least in front. Head 1^ to 

 If times as long as broad, 4f to 5^ times in total length, much flattened, 

 with supero-lateral eyes and flat or slightly concave interorbital region ; 



Fis. 6. 



Poli/ptents e)i(Uichei-{. 

 White Xile (F. N.). i. 



lower jaw projecting slightly beyond upper; length of snout 5 to 7 times 

 in length of head ; eye 9 (young) to 15 times in length of head, 2^ 

 (young) to of times in the interocular width ; latter more than distance 

 between eye and spiracle ; nasal bones in contact on the median line in 

 the adult; a series of 4 to 6 shields between postorbital and spiracular 

 shields ; suboperculum much larger than eye. Dorsal with XI-XIV 

 spines, anterior not or but feebly overlapping when folded. Anal 15-18. 

 Pectoral reaching to or beyond vertical of first dorsal spine. 50-58 

 scales in a longitudinal series, U-15 between occiput and first dorsal 

 spine, 42-46 round middle of body. Grey or greyish olive above; 4 to 

 6 more or less regular broad blackish bands across the back ; on the 



