166 Annals of the South African Museum. 



interorbital width and about 1 ( V times diameter of eye, which is 

 nearly 3^ times in length of head. Posterior margin of preoperculum 

 serrated ; a protuberance at upper anterior angle of orbits ; snout 

 obtuse; cleft of mouth small and slightly oblique, maxillary reaches 

 to vertical of anterior margin of orbits ; upper lip thick ; cheeks 

 covered with scales. 



Dorsal x 20 ; spines strong and received into a sheath at base ; 

 4th and 5th longest, nearly i length of head, succeeding spines 

 decreasing. The anterior rays of soft dorsal are about the same 

 length as the longest spines, the remainder shortening successively 

 and again lengthening a little, making the posterior margin of the 

 fin emarginate. Pectorals about -/ length of head, reaching vertical 

 of vent; ventrals slightly less than pectorals. Anal iii 13; second 

 spine strongest and a little longer than 3rd, f length of longest 

 dorsal spine. Caudal forked, covered with fine scales. Scales 

 ciliated; lat. 1. about 80, lat. tr. H*. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), dark grey, fins black. The colour 

 of fresh specimens of this fish, which occurs abundantly at the Cape, 

 where it is known locally as " Galjoen," varies very much ; some- 

 times the body is very light and silvery, when a series of broad 

 bands may appear across it usually, however, the body is dark, 

 without bands ; the soft dorsal and anal also have a dark patch. 



One specimen, 196 mm. in length, from Mr. Kobinson, Natal. 



CANTHARUS ^NEUS, n. sp. 

 (Bronze Bream.) 



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

 head 4 times. Snout equal to interorbital width and nearly twice 

 the diameter of the eye, which is 4 T 1 - |T times in length of head ; snout 

 obtuse, with a bulge at upper anterior border of the orbits; mouth 

 small, cleft slightly curved; maxillary reaches to vertical of posterior 

 nostril, which is very elongate and situated before upper angle of 

 orbits ; 8 series of scales between preorbital and preopercular limb ; 

 preorbital rather longer than wide, concealing the maxillary bone ; 

 posterior margin of preoperculum straight, angle rounded. 



Dorsal xi 11 ; originates above base of pectorals, spines flexible ; 

 5th spine longest, nearly i length of head ; soft portion of tin lower 

 than spinous. Pectorals 1 T : ' - times length of head, reach almost to 

 origin of anal, 5th ray longest, base of fin covered with scales. 

 Ventrals nearly length of head and with a moderately strong spine f 

 the length of adjacent ray ; reach nearly to vent. Anal iii 10 ; spines 



