98 Annals of the South African Museum. 



of the first-named locality, and species of Blennius and Salarias 

 occurring as abundantly at the latter. 



We have found that a natural division of the genus Clinus may 

 be made into those with a distinct but not separate crest, and those 

 without one. Ogilby (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales X., 1885, 

 p. 226) has suggested the generic name Petraites for species in 

 which " the third dorsal spine is connected to the basal portion 

 of the first spine of the second dorsal," and the name Clinus for 

 those in which the third spine " is connected to the middle or upper 

 half of the first spine of second dorsal." In our South African 

 species, however, it is found that the height at which the connecting 

 membrane of the crest is attached to the fourth spine is not con- 

 stant, varying from a fourth or fifth to a half in individuals of the 

 same species (Clinus superciliosus) ; under these circumstances it 

 seems preferable whilst retaining for the present the genus Clinus 

 in the text as including both forms to keep this name for the 

 crested form and to group the non-crested under another genus, for 

 which we suggest the name Clinoides. We retain the name Cristiceps 

 for those forms in which the first dorsal is distinctly separate from 

 the second, the membrane not being joined on to the second; and 

 this irrespective of the position of the first dorsal spines with 

 reference to the eye. 



FAMILY BLENNIID2E. 



Body elongate, generally low and more or less cylindrical ; naked, 

 or covered with moderate sized or small scales which are ctenoid or 

 cycloid; lateral line variously developed, wanting, or duplicated; 

 mouth large or small, teeth various. Dorsal fin occupying nearly 

 the whole of the back and sometimes joined to the caudal ; formed 

 either wholly of spines, or of spines and soft rays, or of soft rays 

 alone. Anal fin long, similar to soft dorsal, with or without anterior 

 spines, and sometimes joined to caudal. Ventral fins jiigular or 

 sub-thoracic, usually formed of one hidden spine and from one 

 to three soft rays, which are sometimes divided. Caudal fin well 

 developed. No bony stay to sub-orbitals which often have a shelf. 

 Scapula perforate. 



Fishes of moderate or small size generally found about the fore- 

 shore, though some are known to inhabit deeper water. Mostly 

 carnivorous and oviparous ; the genus Clinus, however, is mostly 

 viviparous. 



