Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 17 ( J 



FAMILY POLYNEMID^E. 



POLYNEMUS SEXTAEIUS, Bl. 



Teeth, villiform in jaws, and in a band on vomer and palatines. 

 Depth of body 3 to 3^ times in total length excluding caudal, length 

 of head 3f to 3f times. Snout |- to f diameter of eye, which is about 

 equal to the interorbital width and 3 to 3f times in length of head ; 

 height of head about f its length, width f its length. Snout pro- 

 duced beyond mouth, which is under eye, upper jaw overlaps lower, 

 maxillary extends about ^ diameter of eye behind posterior margin 

 of orbits and is about f length of head ; vertical margin of preoper 

 culum serrated, with a strong tooth above its rounded, produced, but 

 entire angle ; a short strong inconspicuous spine on shoulder at 

 commencement of lateral line. 



Dorsal viii, i 12-13 ; spines weak and somewhat filamentous, 1st 

 spine of anterior dorsal minute, 3rd longest and about -*- length of head 

 those following rapidly decrease ; a series of small scales ascend 

 behind each spine. Anterior rays of soft dorsal about ^ higher than 

 longest spines of the 1st; upper edge of fin rather concave. 

 Pectorals 14 + vi., upper rays unbranched and f to f length of 

 head ; uppermost appendage longest and reaches to middle or tip 

 of ventrals, which are from ^ to f length of head. Anal iii 12-13 ; 

 base about same length as soft dorsal, to which it is similar but not 

 so high ; 1st spine minute, 3rd longest and about twice the height of 

 the 2nd and ^as high as adjacent ray. Caudal deeply forked, length 

 If to 1 times length of head; height of free portion of peduncle 

 about equals its length, which is i to nearly f length of head. 

 Lat. 1. 46-50, lat. tr. -V 



Colour (of preserved specimens), yellowish white with minute 

 black dots over body and fins ; a large dark spot consisting of two 

 parallel serrated lines near commencement of the lateral line. 



Fifteen specimens ; the largest, 135 mm. in length, from Mr. 

 Robinson, Natal ; the others, ranging in length from 70 mm. to 

 90 mm., caught by Pieter Faure (ss.) in shrimp trawl, in 24 fms., 

 South Head Tugela Eiver N. by W. 4-J- miles. 



POLYNEMUS T^NIATUS, Giinth. 



Teeth, villiform, a small nearly oval patch on vomer, a cuneiform 

 band broadest anteriorly on palatines. Depth of body equals length 



