Notice of a New Ganoid Fish. 217 
others being about f of an inch apart. The fins are seven 
in number in this imperfect specimen. 
The breadth of the fish, a little in front of commencement 
of the dorsal finlets, measures J an inch, by about the same 
in depth. 
The smaller fish is 8|- inches in length, the body being 
rather more perfect than the other ; it measures 4J inches 
from point of snout to the first dorsal finlet, to the 
broken extremity of the fish, the finlets being eight in 
number. 
The greatest breadth of the body is f of an inch, a little 
behind the head, and about the same in depth ; it tapers 
very slightly towards the first dorsal fin, and becomes more 
compressed laterally, towards its caudal extremity. At the 
fourth or fifth dorsal finlet it measures J of an inch in breadth 
by f of an inch in depth. 
The head measures laterally, to the extremity of the oper- 
cular flap, f of an inch. The greatest breadth of the head 
is f and j\ of an inch, and is at the junction of the opercu- 
lum and the preoperculum ; and the breadth between the 
eyes is i of an inch. 
From the various differences between this new fish and 
the species of the Genus Polypterus, — all of which seem to 
bear a close resemblance to each other in the general form 
of their comparatively short and fish-like body, and in the 
presence of ventral fins, forming thus a very natural group 
or genus; while the new fish, with its very much elongated 
and more cylindrical form of body, and apparently the entire 
absence of ventral fins, suggested at least the probability, of 
the existence, nearer the Equator, of another allied but 
distinct group of these African fish, — I would, therefore, 
place this fish provisionally in a new genus, which, from its 
general reptile or serpent-like aspect and form, I would de- 
signate ErpetoichtJiys'^ {'EonnQov J-x^vq), the Keptile or Serpent 
* Since this paper was read, I have learned that this designation, or a 
closely allied one, has been already used in Ichthyology, and accordingly, 
on the recommendation of Dr Giinther, of the British Museum, I have changed 
the name of the genus to Calamoichthys {xakKfjLos, a reed, and a fish), 
wliich will still hear a relation to tlie cylindrical character of tlie fit^h. — (For a 
