The Blenniida of South Africa. 129 



profile somewhat rounded at orbits ; a tentacle above each eye, 

 consisting of a short broad peduncle, broadened and flattened and 

 heavily fringed with above 12 cirri at the end, sometimes 2 or 3 cirri 

 at base ; generally a flap at anterior nostril ; mouth broad and 

 cavernous in adult, with thin lips rather pointed at symphysis of 

 jaw and with perpendicular corrugations on them ; jaws about 

 equal, maxillary reaches to vertical of posterior half or posterior 

 margin of the orbits ; many mucous pores on head and along 

 posterior margin of preoperculum. 



Dorsal xxxii-xxxiv 10-14; slightly emarginate, commences slightly 

 in advance of posterior margin of preoperculum and extends almost 

 to base of caudal ; in one specimen examined it was decidedly 

 undulating, but this may have been the result of early distortions ; 

 usually there is not much difference in height. Spines strong and 

 erect, the anterior ones slightly further apart individually, the first 3 

 are equidistant and removed from the 4th by a space about equal to 

 the diameter of the eye, the connecting membrane forming a rather 

 deeper notch between 3rd and 4th. The 2nd spine is usually a 

 little higher than the 1st, about T 3 ff length of head, succeeding spines 

 are slightly lower anteriorly, gradually lengthening posteriorly to 

 slightly higher than the longest anterior spine. Soft portion of fin 

 more elevated than spinous, longest anterior rays about \ higher 

 than last spine ; posterior rays shorten slightly. Pectorals 12 ; from 

 f to -t length of head, acutely oval, membranes incised. Ventrals 

 i 3 ; rays strong, and joined by membrane for about half their 

 length ; middle ray longest, about f length of head, 3rd ray short. 

 Anal ii 27 ; rays about equal in height to last spines of dorsal, 

 membranes deeply incised. Caudal 4 length of head, rounded, 

 membranes scalloped. Scales minute, and extending on to base 

 of pectorals ; lateral line very indistinct or incomplete posteriorly, 

 scales enlarged. 



Colour, dark olive-green or bronze-green, dark brown, &c., light 

 underneath, head and body mottled and spotted ; 7 or 8 irregular 

 transverse bars on body extending through dorsal ; white patches and 

 sometimes irregular bars of white on dorsal or along base of fin, 

 only slightly extending on to body ; white patches on base of 

 pectorals; orange specks on fins, and blotches on upper part of body 

 and head ; head of a yellowish tinge on lower part and with numerous 

 small white and brown specks ; caudal barred with light and dark 

 greenish brown and tipped with white or dull crimson. 



This species appears to possess in a high degree the power of 

 changing its colour not only the shade, but apparently even the 



9 



