BAGRUS CAPENSIS.— Smith. 

 Pisces. — Plate VIII. 



B. capite supra, dorso, corporisque lateribus antice viridi-brunneis, his lineis cseruleis, flavis, et albis 

 variegatis ; corporis lateribus postice et subter lineam lateralem antice flavis, viridi brunneoque 

 umbratis : capite subtus, partibusque inferioribus coloris carnei, purpureo-griseo-umbratis ; oculis 

 flavis. 



Longitudo exempli descripti 20 unc. 



Colour. — The upper surface of the head, and the back and sides an- 

 teriorly, above the lateral line, a rich dark greenish brown, the sides veined 

 irregularly with bright blue, yellow and silvery-white lines. The sides 

 posteriorly above the lateral line, and anteriorly below it, saffron -yellow 

 clouded with grass-green and dull brown ; the middle portion of the sides 

 below the lateral line, and the sides of the head below the eyes, intermediate 

 between straw and ochre-yellow, the tint variegated with shade of a purple 

 and grey hue. The belly, under-surface of head, and sides of tail below the 

 lateral line, together with the base of the anal and dorsal fins, and the 

 greater part of the caudal fin, a livid flesh-colour, clouded with purplish grey; 

 the ventral and anal fins dull ultra-marine blue at the points. The dorsal 

 and pectoral fins dirty brownish-green, clouded with blue, the last colour 

 brightest on the pectorals ; the first or anteriormost spine of pectorals flesh- 

 coloured. The sides of the head, behind the eyes, and the gill-covers, con- 

 fusedly clouded with dark greenish brown, purplish blue, lilac-purple and 

 greenish white tints. The barbels livid reddish brown, lightest at the points. 

 Eyes golden yellow ; pupils black. The whole of the colours of the head and 

 body heightened by the presence of a strong bronze-lustre. 



Form, &c. — Figure rather clumsy. The body in front of the ventral fins 

 somewhat triangular ; the belly large and protuberant ; behind the pectoral 

 fins, subcylindrical and tapered, a decrease of thickness very distinct behind 

 the second dorsal fin. Head as broad as the body, and depressed, its upper 

 surface nearly flat, inclined towards the mouth, and marked along its centre 

 by a broad longitudinal furrow, which is widest about the middle, and by two 

 somewhat triangular hollows, one on each side behind the nostrils, — these 

 depressions are very distinctly seen in prepared specimens. The bones of 

 the upper surface of the head slightly scabrous from the great number of 

 elevated delicate striae with which they are ornamented, and which, like the 

 depressions, are most distinctly seen in dried specimens. Gape nearly the 

 breadth of the anterior part of the head ; upper lip slightly fleshy, with a 

 long barbel at each extremity, immediately in advance of the angle of the 



