106 Annals of the South African Museum. 



Petroskirtes rostratus (Solander), Bleek, Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Nederl., 

 ii., Amboina, p. 62. 



Petroscirtes filamentosus, Giinth., iii., p. 231. 



No canines in upper jaw, those of lower jaw strong. Depth of 

 body 5 times in total length excluding caudal, nearly 5f with caudal ; 

 length of head 4 times excluding, 4f times with caudal. Distance 

 from eye to point of snout li times diameter of eye, which is 

 1^ times in interorbital width and 4f times in length of head; depth 

 of caudal peduncle 2^- times in length of head. No orbital tentacles 

 or crest on head ; snout produced and conical, projecting much 

 beyond cleft of mouth, which is lateral ; upper jaw projecting beyond 

 lower, mouth inferior, maxillary reaches to vertical of anterior margin 

 of orbits. 



Dorsal xxxvi. ; commences in line with posterior margin of pre- 

 operculurn and extends nearly to caudal ; anterior spines elongate and 

 filamentous, about the length of the head. Pectorals 14 ; pointed, 

 lower rays longest and nearly f length of head. Ventrals 3 ; the 3rd 

 ray very short and weak, the others filamentous and i length of 

 head. Anal 26 ; 1st ray short, 2nd about 1^ times as long, 

 remainder subequal and -j length of head ; membranes slightly 

 incised. Caudal about T \ T length of head, with a vertical margin and 

 notched. 



Colour (of preserved specimen) uniform brown, a dark horizontal 

 band through the eye and extending on to the body, large dark 

 brown patches on anterior crest of dorsal and at intervals behind it. 



One specimen, 54 mm. in length, procured by the ss. Pieter Faure 

 in St. Lucia Bay. 



SALAEIAS, Cuv. 



Body moderately elongate, naked. Snout short. Cleft of mouth 

 transverse. Tentacles above orbits more or less developed. A row 

 of small movable teeth in the gums generally with a posterior curved 

 canine on each side of lower jaw. Dorsal single, sometimes divided 

 by a more or less deep notch between the spinous and soft-rayed 

 portions. Ventrals jugular, formed by a small hidden spine and 

 from two to four rays. A crest on the head in many cases, but in 

 some species this has been found to be confined to the males. Gill- 

 openings wide. 



This genus includes the species classified by Jordan and Everman 

 under Entomacrodus, having canine teeth, and Scartichthys, without 

 canines, in both of which the dorsal fin is divided by a notch. 



