TRAVELS IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 
222 
The species do not appear to attain to a large size^ the largest 
examples brought to Europe being about eighteen inches long. 
Like all the Siluroids of the Nile^, they are carnivorous^ and very 
voracious : an individual of seven inches had swallowed another fish 
five inches long. Eaten by the natives,, but of a watery taste. 
Schilbe uranoscopus, Eiipp. 
D. 1/6. A. 67—71. P. 1/11. V. 6. 
The height of the body is two-ninths of the total length (without 
caudal) ^ the length of the head one-fifth ; the greatest width of the 
head is three-fifths of its length. The lower jaw is the longer; the 
depth of the cleft of the mouth is one-half of its width. Nasal and 
maxillary barbels of nearly equal lengtlq shorter than the posterior 
of the lower jaw^ which are about one-third as long as the head. 
The diameter of the eye is one-fifth or one-sixth of the length of 
the head. The end of the dorsal fin is situated vertically above the 
root of the ventral, and the width of its base equals that of the 
latter ; its height is less than the length of the head, the length of 
its spine being two -thirds of the latter ; spine finely serrated pos- 
teriorly. • The anal fin terminates at a short distance from the 
caudal, which is deeply forked, with pointed lobes. The pectoral 
spine is stronger than that of the dorsal fin, and terminates at, or 
close by, the root of the ventral ; it is finely serrated along its inner 
edge. A blackish spot on the origin of the lateral line. 
Schilbe mystus, L. 
D. 1/6. A. 55— 6L P. 1/11. V. 6. 
The height of the body is one-fourth of the total length (without 
