224 CHARACINIUJ.. 



Dorsal originating at equal distance from end 



of snout and from caudal ; Sc. 22-2-i . 2. M. stortnsi, Blgr., p. 225. 



II. Dorsal originating immediately behind vertical of base of ventral. 



A. Anal 18-22. 



1. Lateral line complete ; Anal 19-22. 

 Depth of body 3|-4 times in total length ; 



Sc. 27-.30 3. .V. humiUs, Blgr., p. 226. 



Depth of body 2g-3 times in total length ; 



Sc. 23-25 4. J/, holargyreus, Gthr., p. 227. 



2. Lateral line incomplete, lost on the posterior part of the body ; depth of 



body 2|-3 times in total length. 

 A. 18-19 ; Sc. 25-27 ; pectornl not reaching 



ventral 5. J/, urotwnia, Blgr., p. 228. 



A. 21-22 ; Sc. 21-23 ; pectoral reaching 



ventral 6. M. interruptus, Blgr., p. 229. 



B. Anal 26-28. 



Depth of body 21-21 times in total length ; 



Sc. 23-26 1. M. alius, Blgr., p. 230. 



1. MIORALESTES ACUTIDEXS. 

 Alestes acutidens, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ak. 1852, p. 276, and Reise Mossamb. iv. 



p. 64, pi. xii. fig. 2 (1868J. 

 Bracliyalestes acutidens, Gtinth. Cat. Fish. v. p. 316 (1864). 

 Micralestes acutidens, Bouleng. Ann. Mus. Congo, Zool. i. p. 87 (1899), and Proc. 



Zool. Soc. 1903, ii. p. 329 ; Werner, Sitzb. Ak. Wien, cxv. i. 1906, p. 1128 ; 



Bouleng. Fish. Nile, p. 131, pi. xix. figs. 3 & 4 (1907). 



Depth of body 3 to 3f times in total length, length of head 3^ to 4| 

 times. Head 2 to 2^ times as long as broad, a little longer than deep ; 

 snout shorter than eye, which is lateral and 2f to 3 times in length 

 of head, and equal to interorbital width ; maxillary extending nearly 

 to below anterior border of eye; 14 teeth (g) in upper jaw, 10 (|) in 

 lower; lower border of second suborbital not longer than eye. Gill- 

 rakers short, 12-15 on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal II 8, 

 originating above base of ventrals, at equal distance from centre or 

 posterior border of eye and from caudal ; longest ray as long as or a 

 little shorter than head. Anal III 14-16. Pectoral as long as or a 

 little shorter than head, not reaching ventral. Caudal deeply forked, 

 lobes pointed. Caudal peduncle as long as deep or slightly longer than 



4- 



deep. Scales 23-28 ^^, IJ or 2 between lateral line and root of 

 caudal. Yellowish with a broad silvery lateral band, often edged with 



