134 MASTACEMBELID^. 



mouth extending to below anterior third or centre of eye ; no prje- 

 orbital spine ; 2 or 3 small praeopercular spines, ])orsal XXIX- 

 XXXII 70-80 ; spines very short, last scarcely longer than eye ; 

 distance between first spine and head f to | length of latter. Anal II 

 70-80 ; first spine minnte, often very indistinct. Caudal obtusely 



Mastacemhelus brevicauda. 

 Type, Assobiim. |. 



pointed. Pectoral | length of head. Scales very small, 15-17 between 

 origin of soft dorsal and lateral line ; latter formed of a few tubules, 

 widely separated from one another. Olive-brown above, usually Avith a 

 more or less distinct dark brown band on each side of the back above 

 the lateral line, and a vertebral series of small dark brown spots 

 corresponding Avith the spines ; sides mottled with dark brown ; caudal 

 region marbled M'ith dark brown, with light spots towards the caudal 

 fin, which bears one or several large black spots and is edged with 

 whitish ; yellowish beneath, sometimes with a brown network. 



Total length 200 millim. 



South Cameroon. 



1-5. Types, Kribi R. G. L. Bates, Esq. (C). 



C-9. Types. Ziina Country. ,, 



10-12. Types. Ja E. at Bitye. 



13-15. Types. Bnmba R. at Assobam. ,, 



25. MASTACEMBELUS RETIOULATUS. 

 Bonleng. Ann. & Mag. N. H. (8) viii. 1911, p. 638. 



? Mastacemhehis cri/ptacanthts (non Giinth.), Steind. Denkschr. Ak. AVien, xli. 

 1879, p. 16. 



Depth of body 11 to 12 tim-cs in total length, length of head 7 to 7f 

 times. Vent equally distant from head and from caudal, its distance 

 from former 3 times its length. Snout 3 times as long as eye, ending 

 in an appendage which is 1^ times as long as eye ; mouth extending to 

 below posterior nostril ; no preeorbital spine ; two strong prteopercular 

 spines. Dorsal XXXI-XXXII 90 ; spines extremely short, last longest, 



