Descriptions of Fishes front the Coast of Natal. 161 



of first three spines of dorsal in a slight curve downwards, including 

 posterior two-thirds of operculum and base of pectorals, and across 

 abdomen from origin of ventrals to anal, including ventrals ; a broad 

 dark band curves downwards and backwards from summit of 5th to 

 7th spines of dorsal to anal, including posterior third of that fin; 

 anal spines dark, anterior two-thirds of fin with a dark edge. 



Two specimens, 111 mm. and 114 mm. in length respectively, 

 from Durban Museum. 



HOLACANTHUS KHOMBOIDES, n. Sp. 



Depth of body If times in total length excluding caudal, length of 

 head 4 times. Snout slightly less than interorbital width and 

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

 preoperculum with posterior border finely serrated, and with a large 

 grooved spine, -i- the diameter of the eye in length, at the angle ; 

 nape slightly compressed and gibbose ; a bulge at upper anterior 

 angle of orbits, and a deep indentation from each nostril to orbit ; a 

 small spine on each side of snout above upper lip, the lip being very 

 protractile and thick in the centre ; lower jaw longer, chin pro- 

 minent ; cleft of mouth small, and oblique when closed. 



Dorsal xii 23 ; spines short, embedded in a groove, increasing in 

 length to last spine ; anterior soft rays about 4 times the height 

 of the last, the margin of the tin vertical with a rounded angle. 

 Pectorals a little longer than head ; ventrals slightly shorter, with 

 the first ray filamentous and about twice the length of the spine, 

 which is strong. Anal iii 22 ; spines short and deeply embedded ; 

 soft portion of fin about equal to soft dorsal, with a similar vertical 

 margin and rounded angle. Margin of caudal straight. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), uniform dark brown. 



Described from one specimen, 234 mm. in length, received from 

 Mr. Kobinson, Natal, who states it is a deep-sea fish, and very 

 rare. 



A smaller specimen, 114 mm. in length, caught off the breakwater 

 at Port Natal, was also received from Mr. Eobinson. It agrees very 

 closely with the above, allowing for the difference in size, and seems 

 to be the immature form of this species. The colour, however, 

 differs considerably, being a dark greenish brown with bright blue 

 crescentic stripes across the body passing, respectively, through the 

 angle of the mouth, anterior and posterior margins of eye, middle of 

 operculum, second third of body, and caudal peduncle ; between the 

 last two there is a faint irregular line. 



11 



