The Blenniida of South Africa. 125 



emarginate ; spines erect and moderately strong, usually with 

 extremities free and a short lobe on each ; the first 2 or 3 

 generally about -*- length of head, the succeeding spines gradually 

 lengthening until the last is about 1^ times as high as the 1st. 

 Soft portion of fin higher than spinous, anteriorly the rays are 

 about : V longer than adjacent spines ; posteriorly they successively 

 shorten, giving a rounded margin to fin. Pectorals 12, rounded, 

 middle rays longest, from f to y^ length of head. Ventrals i 2-3 ; 

 from i to f length of head, 3rd ray when apparent is very short. 

 Anal ii 21-22 ; the rays anteriorly are about same height as last 

 spine of dorsal, posteriorly they lengthen slightly ; extremities of 

 rays free, membranes incised. Caudal rounded, about f length 

 of head. 



Colour, usually light green, or light greenish or yellowish brown 

 or grey, speckled with minute white spots and with from 4 to 6 

 irregular dark brown transverse bands on body ; sometimes the 

 ground colour is of a darker shade, often with irregular clusters 

 of white specks along base of dorsal fin ; belly of a light shade. 



Over 40 specimens examined, ranging from 22 mm. to 102 mm. in 

 length. A shapely, active, rather shy little fish, abundant on the 

 littoral of the Cape Peninsula, frequenting rock-pools and ledges 

 about low tide mark. 



CLINUS COTTOIDES, C. and V. 



Cliuus cottoides, Guv. and Val., xi, p. 367 ; Gunth., iii, p. 269 ; 

 Kner, Novara, p. 202. 



Teeth, a row of sharp, slightly curved teeth, with 2 clusters or 

 a band behind the anterior part, on each jaw. Depth of body 4 

 to 5 times in total length excluding caudal, length of head 3^ to 4^ 

 times. Distance from eye to point of snout 1 to If times diameter 

 of eye, which is 1 to If times interorbital width and 3 to 44- times in 

 length of head ; depth of caudal peduncle 3 to 4 times in length of 

 head. A tentacle over each orbit, consisting of a fringe of 5 or 6 

 cirri on a broad peduncle or base ; interorbital space with a longi- 

 tudinal depression, with a bold orbital ridge ; a transverse depression 

 behind orbits. Profile of head rounded, snout blunt ; cleft of mouth 

 wide, jaws about equal, maxillary reaches to vertical of middle of 

 orbits ; eyes prominent. 



Dorsal xxxii-xxxiv 4-6 ; slightly emarginate, commences in line 

 with or a little behind posterior margin of preoperculum and reaches 

 almost to base of caudal ; spines erect and moderately strong, low 



