474 DR JOHN ALEXANDER SMITH ON CALAMOICHTHYS, 



rows on all the specimens. Varieties in the mesial dorsal scales were noticed, 

 similar to those in the males. 



Dorsal finlets. — Varieties in the number of the dorsal finlets also occurred. 

 These seemed to range from nine to eleven in number, and to be irrespective 

 of the size or total length of the specimen, the longest and largest specimen 

 having, indeed, the fewest dorsal finlets. The relation of the last finlet to the 

 base of the tail and the caudal fin-rays seemed also to vary, as well as the 

 softness or hardness of its accompanying tin-ray. The relative distance between 

 the different individual dorsal finlets also varied in the different specimens. 



Anal fin. — The anal fin in all the specimens was similar in character to the 

 one described. 



Caudal fin. — The caudal fin was rounded in its outline in some of the 

 specimens, and more acute and pointed in others, so that in this also some range 

 of shape must be allowed. 



The Colour, or shade of colour, was like that of the male, but varied in the 

 different specimens to a considerable degree, the darker colour of the back 

 extending considerably over the sides of some of the specimens, and leaving only 

 a small portion of the abdomen of a lighter or white colour ; while in others, the 

 colour was lighter on the middle of the sides of the body, and the abdomen of 

 the fish was nearly white. 



I add a few notes of some of these female specimens examined : — 



1. The first had ten dorsal finlets, and the tenth had its fin-ray soft, and the 

 fin attached to the base of the caudal fin-rays. 



2. The second measured 8| inches in length, the head measuring laterally 

 nearly | of an inch ; dorsal finlets ten in number, the tenth distinct and separate 

 from the caudal fin-rays, and its fin-ray soft. 



3. The third measured 8|^ inches in length ; dorsal finlets ten in number, the 

 last not connected to the caudal fin-rays ; and the secondary ray of the last 

 finlet soft. 



4. The fourth was of a larger size than the others, measuring 11 inches in 

 length. It was sent to me, as already stated, by Mr W. Geant Mylne, from the 

 district of the Camaroons, Western Africa. Dorsal finlets only nine in number, 

 the ninth being distinct from the caudal fin-rays, and its fin-ray soft. The first 

 dorsal finlet is 5f inches distant from the point of the snout, and from the first 

 dorsal fin it measures 5% inches to the extremity of the rather pointed caudal 

 fin. (Plate XXXI. fig. 4.) 



Food of the Calamoiclithys calabaricus. 

 Termitidce. — Various specimens of perfect insects and larvae were taken from 

 the stomach of one of the female fishes. These 6sh are, therefore, as might have 

 been expected, carnivorous and insect- feeders ; in anglers' phrase, they take the 



