102 Annals of the South African Museum. 



44- times in the total length. The dorsal is slightly emarginate 

 above the llth spine, which is about ^ the length of the others ; 

 it is joined to the back before the caudal. The two first spines of 

 the anal are tuberculous. Pectorals i length of body ; ventrals the 

 length of body. 



D. xii 14 ; A. n 16-18 ; C. 15 ; P. 16 ; V. i 2. 



The colour when fresh appears to be green with brown shades ; 

 ends of filaments on nape are brown and white, and less markedly 

 the dorsal spines, with a round black spot between 1st and 2nd 

 spine ; anal has a black border and the extremities of the rays white. 



BLENNIUS CAPITO, C. and V. 



Blennius capita, Cuv. and Val., xi., p. 260 ; Giinth., iii., p. 215. 



This species is marked by the curved portion of the lateral line 

 being formed anteriorly by a double row of pores, with a single row 

 for the rest of its length. Its profile very abrupt, which causes the 

 swelling of the throat to be more apparent. There is a very marked 

 transverse depression on the head behind the eyes. A soft skin, 

 loose and spongy, envelops and nearly hides the dorsal and anal : 

 head 4f times in total length, it is notably almost as broad as high. 

 There are 36 or 38 teeth in each jaw ; no canines, or at least only a 

 very small one posteriorly, scarcely distinguishable from the other 

 teeth. The length of the ventrals is nearly 9 times in that of the 

 body. The dorsal is joined to the back before the caudal, which is 

 not longer than the ventrals. The two fungiform tubercles are very 

 pronounced. There are several well-marked pores on the cheek. 



D. xiii 19 ; A. 23, &c. 



In preservative it appears of a blackish brown, paler on the belly, 

 and several whitish tints are apparent in the form of marbling, &c. 



The species is large for the genus 7 or 8 inches. 



NOTE. Gunther describes the superciliary margin as swollen, 

 with a short fringed tentacle posteriorly. 



BLENNIUS CASTANEUS, Cast. 

 Blennius castaneus, Cast. Mem., p. 50. 



Very near to B. capito of Cuv. and Val., but the lateral line is 

 crossed on its anterior portion by a certain number of small trans- 

 verse incisions, and behind the curve the line is formed of a simple 

 series of strong and isolated points. 



The colour is a uniform chestnut, even that of the eyes. There 

 are rows of pores round the eyes. 



