Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 175 



4i times in length of head. Vertical limb of preoperculum finely 

 serrated, angle rounded entire and slightly produced ; greatest depth 

 of preorbital equals diameter of eye ; a well-developed heavily 

 fringed tentacle on anterior nostril ; maxillary reaches to vertical of 

 middle of orbits ; interorbital space concave with a strong bony 

 ridge over each eye produced posteriorly into a smooth bony 

 excrescence above the preoperculum ; profile of head depressed 

 behind orbits. 



Dorsal x 11 ; commences above base of pectorals, spines strong, 

 3rd to 6th subequal and about f length of head, the following spines 

 decreasing slightly ; anterior soft rays li times length of the 

 adjacent spine. Pectorals 7 + viii. ; the two upper simple rays are 

 longest and nearly f length of head. Ventrals a little over 1 length 

 of head. Anal iii 6 ; 2nd spine strongest and longest, a little 

 higher than longest spines of dorsal ; anterior soft rays 1J times as 

 high as longest rays of dorsal. Caudal (damaged). Scales fairly 

 large, cycloid, and also cover posterior margin of opercles. Lat. 1. 

 40, lat. tr. f. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), dark brown, lighter underneath ; 

 body spotted with dark brown, vertical fins with irregular bars of 

 dark brown. 



One specimen, 165 mm. in length, from Mr. Robinson, Natal ; 

 caught at Winkel Spruit. 



FAMILY SC 



PTEROIS MILES, Benn. 



Teeth, a band of villiform teeth on each jaw, a deep chevron- 

 shaped band on vomer. Depth of body 3^ times in total length 

 excluding caudal, length of head over 3| times. Snout twice 

 diameter of eye, which nearly equals interorbital width and is 4i- 

 times in length of head. Interorbital space very concave ; a bony 

 ridge on each orbit with a blunt spine at posterior end ; a bladelike 

 spine on occipital ridge on each side of nape ; a spinate ridge from 

 upper posterior angle of eye to commencement of lateral line ; snout 

 with a bony knob in centre nearer to point than to orbits, the 

 anterior nostrils, each of which has a flap, being at its base on the 

 posterior side ; 3 blunt spines on lower margin of preorbital, from 

 which a bony ridge extends to eye and a spinate ridge crosses the 

 cheek and extends to upper spine of preoperculum, which has 2 



