The BlenniidcB of South Africa. Ill 



Key to South African Species. 

 (a) WITH DORSAL CREST. 

 (1) frith orbital tentacles. 



1. Anterior crest high in males falciform, from | to f 

 length of head in height ; in females more rounded, ^ to 

 length of head. Orbital tentacles a more or less flat- 

 tened stalk divided, short-fringed, or indented, of dark 



colour. D. iii xxx-xxxviii 5-9, A. ii 25-30, V. i 2 C. superciliosus. 



2. Crest lower and triangular, about the same in both sexes. 

 Orbital tentacles a rounded tapering stalk with a long 

 fringe, often branched, and usually of a light colour. 



D.. iii xxxiii-xxxvii 5-7, A. ii 26-29, V. i 2 C. si<]>i : rrili<n<iix, 



var. arborescens. 



3. Crest more or less fan-shaped, with slender flexible 

 spines. Snout obtuse. D. iii xxx-xxxiii 6-8, A. ii 



25-28, V. i 2 C. ornatus. 



4. Crest lower than last spine of dorsal, separated from 

 remainder of fin by a deep notch, the membrane joined 

 to the base of 4th spine ; a shallow transverse depression 

 behind orbits ; eyes placed high up and slightly directed 

 upwards. Scales distinct and comparatively large. D. iii 



xxxii 5, A. ii 23, V. i 3 C. brevicristatus. 



(2) No orbital tentacles. 



5. Crest low ; succeeding spines grouped in twos and threes, 

 the membranes connecting groups generally transparent. 

 Caudal peduncle long and slender. D. iii xxiii-xxiv 3-4, 



A. ii 15-17, V. i 3 C. mits. 



6. Crest not much elevated, semi-detached, the connecting 

 membrane attached low down on 4th spine. D. iii 

 xxvii-xxviii 4-5, A. ii 21-22, V. i 3 C. laurentii. 



7. Dorsal more or less undulating, crest rounded and 

 elevated. Snout short and up-turned. Often with a 

 silvery spot behind pectorals. D. xxviii-xxix 5-6, 



A. ii 19-21, V. i 3 C. facorum. 



8. Crest not much elevated, 3rd spine a little removed from 

 2nd and still further from 4th. First soft rays remote 



from last. D. xxxi-xxxv 3, A. ii 20-22, V. i 3 . . . . C. pavo. 



(b) No DORSAL CREST. 

 (1) With orbital tentacles. 



9. Dorsal low anteriorly, spines erect and increasing in 

 height posteriorly ; soft part of fin more elevated than 

 spinous. Snout sub-conical. D. xxxi-xxxiii 5-7, A. ii 



21-22, V. i 2-3 C. acuminatus. 



