The Blenniidce of South Africa. 117 



end and sides, sometimes also bifurcated at end, fringe often tipped 

 with yellow ; a fringed tentacle at anterior nostril ; interorbital space 

 slightly concave or flat with a longitudinal groove ; eyes prominent ; 

 cleft of mouth oblique, maxillary reaches to vertical of middle or 

 posterior margin of orbits. Numerous mucous pores on head and 

 shoulders. 



Dorsal in xxx-xxxiii 6-8 ; slightly emarginate, commences 

 just behind vertical of posterior margin of orbits and barely 

 reaches to caudal, only a very short free peduncle being left. Spines 

 slender and flexible, the first 3 removed from the remainder by a 

 membranous space equal to the distance between the bases of the 1st 

 and 3rd ; generally, the first 2 are about equal, ^ to i length of 

 head, sometimes the 2nd is the longest or all 3 are subequal, the 

 membranes connecting them to each other are deeply emarginate 

 and they are connected with the base of the 4th by a membrane 

 which forms a deep curved notch : this anterior crest when erected 

 is about as wide at its upper extremity as at its base. The 4th spine 

 is about ^ length of the 1st, the next few gradually lengthen slightly 

 and the remainder are usually subequal and about f length of 1st, 

 sometimes the spines of the middle of the fin are slightly longer than 

 the rest. Anterior soft rays vary from a little more to a little less 

 the height of the adjacent spine, posterior margin of fin is rounded 

 owing to shortening of last rays. Pectorals 15 ; broad and pointed, 

 middle rays longest, f a to ^ length of head. Ventrals i 2 ; inner 

 ray f to i length of head, outer a little shorter. Anal n 25-28 ; 

 rays about equal in height anteriorly to last spines of dorsal, slightly 

 lengthening posteriorly ; membranes incised. Caudal rounded, 

 f to i length of head, membranes scalloped. Lateral line scales 

 enlarged anteriorly, descending curve acute. 



Colour, usually vivid. A yellowish or greyish brown, with small 

 dark brown spots ; 6 irregular transverse bands of dark brown 

 edged with orange and extending on to dorsal fin ; orange markings 

 and blotches on head, body, dorsal and anal fins ; pectorals trans- 

 parent, with 5 rows of brown spots touched with orange ; caudal 

 almost transparent, with 2 transverse bands of orange near the 

 extremity, and spotted with orange and brown ; ventrals light green 

 often barred with orange. 



Nine specimens, ranging in length from 70 mm. to 161 mm. 

 from False Bay ; one specimen, 143 mm. in length, was procured 

 by the ss. Pieter Faure when trawling near the Eoman Eock, 

 in 13 fms. The species does not seem to be very common on 

 the littoral. 



