148 Annals of the South African Museum. 



PRIACANTHUS ARENATUS, C. and V. 



Depth of body 2|- times in total length excluding caudal, length 

 of head 3 times. Snout nearly f diameter of eye, which is 2^ times 

 in length of head (without mandible) ; interorbital width f diameter 

 of eye and 4 times in length of head. Spine at angle of preopercle 

 short, and indistinct in larger specimen ; preorbital serrated along 

 upper and lower borders ; an inconspicuous spine on opercle ; 

 maxillary reaches to vertical of anterior third of orbits ; 23 gill-rakers 

 on lower part of anterior arch. 



Dorsal x 14 ; spines of moderate strength increasing in height to 

 the last, which is 1^ to If length of 2nd spine and length of head ; 

 the first four spines more or less spinulose. Longest soft rays not 

 much higher than longest spines ; rays spinuloss. Pectorals f length 

 of head. Ventrals as long as head, the spine j} to f length of longest 

 ray and spinulose. Anal hi 15 ; 3rd spine longest, f to i height of 

 longest spine of dorsal ; spines and soft rays spinulose, soft portion 

 of fin about the same height as soft dorsal. Caudal slightly emargi- 

 nate. Scales spinulose 90-96 ; lat. 1. 78, lat. tr. g^. 



Colour (of preserved specimens), pale brownish yellow, slightly 

 reddish above. 



Two specimens, one 260 mm. in length, from Mr. Robinson, Natal, 

 who reports it is a fish caught by the fishing boats off Port Shep- 

 stone ; the other, 121 mm. in length, was procured from Indian 

 fishermen in Durban Harbour. 



AMBASSIS NATALENSIS, n. sp. 



Teeth, villiform on jaws, vomer, palatines, and on tongue. Depth 

 of body 2i to 3 times in total length excluding caudal, length of 

 head 3 to 3* times. Snout equals interorbital width and is f to 4- 

 diameter of eye, which is 2j to 3 times in length of head. Cleft of 

 mouth very oblique, lower jaw longer than upper, maxillary reaches 

 to vertical of anterior margin of orbits ; a spine at posterior upper 

 angle of orbits ; vertical and horizontal edges and outer margin of 

 the preoperculum finely serrated ; the inner margin has two strong 

 spines at its angle directed backwards ; preorbital serrated, inter- 

 opercle not serrated. 



Dorsal, vii i 10-11 ; spines moderately strong, 2nd spine longest, 

 f to f length of head and about f the height of the body below it. 

 Pectorals to -i length of head. Ventrals f to ^ length of head. 

 Anal in 10-11 ; 3rd spine longest, about ^ to f length of head and 

 f to | height of longest spine of dorsal. Caudal forked. Scales, 2 



