118 Annals of the South African Museum. 



CLINUS BBEVICBISTATUS, n. sp. 



Teeth, villiform, in a band on each jaw and a small chevron- 

 shaped band on vorner. Depth of body 3f times in total length 

 excluding caudal, length of head 4i times. Snout 1J times in 

 diameter of eye, which is 3i times in length of head ; interorbital 

 width 21- times in diameter of eye; depth of caudal peduncle 3f 

 times in length of head. Head short, a shallow transverse depres- 

 sion behind orbits, snout obtuse ; eyes prominent, placed high up and 

 slightly directed upwards ; interorbital space flat ; jaws about equal, 

 maxillary reaches to vertical of anterior third of orbits ; a well- 

 developed tentacle above upper posterior angle of each orbit formed 

 by a broad flat stalk with 9 cirri at the end ; a similar tentacle with 

 3 or 4 cirri at the end at each anterior nostril ; mucous pores on 

 head and shoulders. 



Dorsal in xxxii 5 ; slightly emarginate, commences above base of 

 ventrals and extends almost to base of caudal ; the first 3 spines are 

 separated from the rest of the fin by a deep notch, the membrane 

 being connected to the base only of the 4th spine, approaching in this 

 respect the genus Cristiceps, which, however, we define as having 

 the first dorsal entirely separate. The 1st and 2nd spines are equal 

 and a little less than ^ length of head, the 3rd and 4th spines are 

 about the height of the first two, the next few lengthen gradually 

 to about the middle of the fin, the remainder being about equal in 

 height except the last, which is longer than the first two spines. [In 

 the specimen described there is a deep notch between the 18th and 

 19th spines, but this may be due to an injury during its earlier 

 stage.] The soft portion of the fin is higher than the spinous, the 

 first soft ray being 1? times height of adjacent spine. Pectorals 13; 

 as long as the head. Ventrals i 3 ; - length of head, inner ray 

 minute. Anal n 23 ; low anteriorly and rising posteriorly to height 

 of longest ray of soft dorsal ; membranes deeply incised. Caudal 

 rounded, middle rays longest and about same length as head, mem- 

 branes incised. Lateral line in a series of enlarged scales on curve. 

 Scales distinct and comparatively large, a scale from middle measured 

 1-13 by -9 mm. 



Colour, about seven irregular dark chocolate-brown bands across 

 body extending to extremities of dorsal and anal fins, between these 

 lines are irregular brick-red bands from the base of the dorsal across 

 the lateral line but not reaching the abdominal margin ; a longitudinal 

 row of irregular white patches below lateral line from pectorals to 

 base of caudal ; an irregular white band from inferior margin of eye 

 to border of opercle ; a white patch on throat below opercle ; a white 



