BAGRUS CAPENSIS. — Smith. 
Pisces. — Plate VIII. 
B. capite supra, dorso, corporisque lateribus antice viridi-brunneis, his lineis cseruleis, flavis, et albis 
varicgatis ; corporis lateribus postiee et subter lineam lateralem antice flavis, viridi brunneoque 
umbratis: capite subtus, partibusque inferioribus coloris camei, purpureo-griseo-uinbratis ; 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 brownisli-greeD, 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 
