SYNODONTIS. 46 y 



ramified branches, outer the longer and J- to f length of head. Gill- 

 opening not extending downwards beyond root of pectoral spine. 

 Occipito-nuchal shield granulate like the occiput, obtusely tectiform, 

 11 times as long as broad, posterior processes pointed or rounded. 

 Humeral process fiat, granulate, broader than long, obtusely pointed or 

 rounded behind. Dorsal I 7 ; spine curved, smooth in front, very 

 feebly serrated behind, as long as head, bearing a long filament. 

 Adipose dorsal nearly 3 times as long as deep, as long as its distance 

 from rayed dorsal. Anal III 7, pointed. Pectoral spine nearly as long 

 as head, reaching or nearly reaching ventral, smooth or very feebly 

 serrated on outer border, strongly on inner. Ventral obtusely pointed, 

 reaching anal. Caudal deeply forked. Caudal peduncle as long as 

 deep. Brown above, white beneath ; back of head dotted with black ; 

 body usually with large round black spots, few in number, disposed 

 alternately ; 3 or 4 black bars across the dorsal, and 3 or 4, oblique, on 

 each lobe of caudal. 



Total length 240 millim. 



Upper Congo. — Types in Congo Museum, Tervueien. 



1. One of the types. Leopoklville. Capt. Wilvertli (C). 



2. Hgr. Monsembe. Rev. J. H. Weeks (P.). 

 3-4. Ad. & hgr. Upper Congo. Brussels University. 



5- Ad. Banzyville, Ubanghi. Capt. Royaux (C). 



The specimen from the Upper Ubanghi described and figured by 

 Vaillant (N. Arch. Mus. [3] viii. 1896, pi. xii. fig. 2) as a young S. labeo 

 must probably be referred to this species (see Boulenger, Poiss. Bass. 

 Congo, p. 328). 



54. SYNODONTIS CLARIAS. 



Silarus darias, Linn, in Hasselq. Reis. Palsest. p. 412 (17(J2), and Svst. Nat. i. 



p. 504, part. (1766). 

 Silarus callarias, part., Bloch-Schneid. Syst. Iclith. p. 379 (1801). 

 Pimelodus synodontis, Geoffr. Descr. Egypte, Poiss, pi. xii. figs. 5 & 6 (1809). 

 Synodontis macrodon, I. Geoffr. op. cit. p. 295 (1827) ; Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. 



xv. p. 252 (1840) ; Giinth. Cat. Fish. v. p. 211 (1864), and Petherick's Trav. 



ii. p. 234 (18G9). 

 Synodontis darias, Riipp. Beschr. n. Fische Nil, p. 5 (1829) ; Vaill. N. Arch. Mus. 



(3) viii. 1896, p. 102 ; Bouleng. Fish. Nile, p. 377, pi. lxxiii. (1907). 



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

 times. Head If to If times as long as broad, a little deeper than broad, 

 rugose, granulate above from between the eyes, the granulate area 



