Page:Travels in West Africa, Congo Français, Corisco and Cameroons (IA travelsinwestafr00kingrich).pdf/757

---

species the present differs besides in a rather smaller mouth and much stronger subopercular armature. Vomerine and palatine teeth present.

Ctenopoma nanum, sp.n. (PL. 1. fig. B.)

D. 15-16/9.A. 2/9-10.L. lat. 27.L. transv. 2 1/2/9.

Body stouter than in Ct. multispine or Ct. gabonense, its greatest depth being contained 2 3/4 in the total length (without caudal) and nearly equal to the length of the head. The snout equals the diameter of the eye, which is contained 4 3/4 in the length of the head; interorbital space rather convex, not wider than the orbit. Mouth rather narrow, the maxillary not extending to the vertical from the centre of the eye. Opercular armature weak; there are only a few spinous teeth above and below the opercular notch, and none at all on the sub- and interoperculum. The space between anal and caudal fins is equal to a diameter of the eye. Pores on the head entirely covered by scales. Five series of scales on the cheek, the lowermost covering the præopercular margin. Ventral fins reaching beyond the origin of the anal, the two outer rays being prolonged into filaments. Body with darker cross-band; an indistinct oblique irregular dark band from the eye towards the root of the pectoral.

Two specimens from the Gaboon 67 millim. long, are in the British Museum: they were collected with specimens of Ct. Petherici.

This species does not possess palatine teeth, and I am unable to see any teeth on the vomer, the head of which, however, is visible and not covered by the mucous membrane. Of course the possibility of these specimens being the young of one of the other species has been considered; but beside agreeing among themselves and differing from the other species in the number of spines, the comparative size of the eye and width of the interorbital space clearly point to their being either mature or not far removed from maturity.

Ctenopoma Petherici.

• Clenopoma Petherici, Günth, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1864, xiii. p. 211, and 1867, xx. p. 110 (part.}; and in Petherick's "Travels," ii. 1869, p. 208, pl. i, fig. A.

The British Muscum contains a specimen the exact habitat of which is not known, but which was bought with other