1864.] DR. A. GT7NTHER ON REPTILES FROM THE ZAMBESI. 303 soft rays, which are bifid at the end, and form a convex posterior margin. Anal fin very short, composed of four rays only, which are opposed to the posterior dorsal rays. The base of the pectoral fin is fleshy and enveloped in skin, as in other Pediculati. It is com-posed of eighteen simple and feeble rays. Ventral fins none. Vent situated immediately behind the abdominal sac. The whole fish, even the inside of the mouth, of the abdominal sac, and of the sto-mach, is of a uniform deep black. Total length (mouth closed) 3^-inches ; length of intermaxillary and of mandible 1-^j inch. 7. Report on a Collection of Reptiles and Fishes made by Dr. Kirk in the Zambesi and Nyassa Regions. By Albert Gunther, M.A., M.D., Ph.D., F.Z.S. (Plates XXVI., XXVII.) A most valuable collection of Reptiles and Fishes made by Dr. Kirk, the scientific companion of Dr. Livingstone on his last expe-dition to Eastern Africa, having been presented by him to the British Museum, I beg leave to lay before the Society a full account of its contents, with descriptions of those species which appear to me to be new to science. The Tortoises and a part of the Saurians have already been noticed by Dr. J. E. Gray in the ' Proceedings ' of this Society, 1864, p. 58, where also figures of two new Lizards have been given. In the determination of several of the species, I have been aided by a less complete series of duplicate specimens which had been sent home by Mr. C. Livingstone, and were presented by Earl Russell to the British Museum. For almost all we know of the fauna of this part of Tropical Africa we are indebted to Professor Peters, who spent several years in the exploration of its zoological and botanical productions, and who reaped so rich a harvest. However, Dr. Kirk entered a country previously unexplored, the topographical features of which are given in the following notes, with which I have been favoured by Dr. Kirk :— " The present collection is chiefly from the regions bordering the Zambesi, including those of the Nyassa Lake. " Some of the fish were gathered in the Rovuma, which was ex-plored for 115 miles in direct distance, at which point it becomes encumbered by rocks, and cannot be ascended further. This river, gathering the waters of the eastern slopes of the coast mountain-range which overhangs the Nyassa, opens to the Indian Ocean north of Cape Delgado. "Above the Victoria Falls of the Zambesi and the Murchison Rapids of the Shire a marked difference in the fish fauna is met with. During the short time spent in the former region, many fishes with which I was not familiar in the lower part were observed ; and the natives who accompanied us remarked of others met with near Tete,
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