MASTACEMBELUS. 



117 



from head about twice length of latter. Snout 3 times as long as eye, 

 ending in an appendage which is more than twice as long as eye ; mouth 

 not extending to below eye ; a strong, erectile spine below posterior 

 nostril; two strong praeopercular spines. Dorsal XX1II-XXIV 75; 

 distance between first spine and head \ length of latter. Anal II 75-80. 

 Caudal obtusely pointed. Pectoral | length of head. Scales very small, 

 20-22 between origin of soft dorsal and lateral line. Brownish, spotted 

 and marbled with yellowish ; a series of black spots along the middle of 

 the back and at the base of the anal fin ; soft dorsal spotted with black; 

 anal edged with black. 



Total length 150 millim. 



Ogowe. — Type, in Paris Museum, examined. 



Fig. 70. 



Mastacembelus crijptacantlms. 

 Type. |. 



4. MASTACEMBELUS ORYPTACANTHUS. 



Giinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 18G7, p. 102 ; Bouleng. Tr. Zool. Soc. xv. 181*8, p. 23. 



Depth of body 22 times in total length, length of head 10 times. 

 Vent slightly nearer end of snout than caudal, its distance from head 

 3| times length of latter. Snout 3 times as long as eye, ending in an 

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

 anterior border of eye ; no prseorbital spine; two strong pneopercular 

 spines. Dorsal XXIV 100; spines short, last longest, as long as eye; 

 distance between first spine and head a little longer than latter. 

 Anal II 100. Caudal obtusely pointed. Pectoral \ length of head. 

 Scales very small, 16 between origin of soft dorsal and lateral line. 

 Brown, variegated with darker ; dorsal, anal, and caudal finely dotted 

 with hlackish. 



Total length 230 millim. 



Cameroon. 



1- Tyi 



>e. 



Cameroon. 



Dr. J. A. Smith (P.). 



