134 



MASTACEMBELID^E. 



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

 orbital spine ; 2 or 3 small prgeopercular spines. Dorsal XXIX- 

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

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

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



Fig. 87. 



Maslacembelus brevicauda. 

 Type, Assobam. J. 



pointed. Pectoral j length of head. Scales very small, 1-5-17 between 

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

 widely separated from one another. Olive-brown above, usually with 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 with the spines; sides mottled with dark brown; caudal 

 region marbled with 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 Detwork. 



Total length 200 millim. 

 South Cameroon. 



1-5. Types. 



0-9. Types. 

 10-12. Types. 

 13-15. Types. 



Kribi R. 

 Zima Country. 

 Ja R. at Bitye. 

 Bumba R. at Assobam. 



G. L. Bates, Esq. (C). 



25. MASTACEMBELUS RETICULATUS. 



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



? Mastacembelus crypt acanthus (non Giintb.), Steind. Denkschr. Ak. TYien, sli. 

 1879, p. 16. 



Depth of body 11 to 12 times in total length, length of head 7 to 7ij 

 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 praeorbital spine ; two strong prseopercular 

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



