Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 183 



angle, which is rounded ; operculum with 2 flat spines ; distance 

 between eye and upper jaw equals diameter of the orbit ; barbel on 

 chin at synaphysis of lower jaw short, 1 diameter of eye in length and 

 with 2 open pores at its base on either side ; a row of 3 pores across 

 front of snout with a single pore above them in the centre. 



Dorsal x, i 25 ; spines flexible, 1st very short, 4th longest, 

 slightly over twice the length of soft rays and -^ length of head. 

 Pectorals nearly f length of head, rays divided. Ventrals slightly 

 over f length of head. Anal ii 7 ; 2nd spine strong, 2^ times in 

 head and about f length of 1st soft ray, which is about the same 

 length as the longest dorsal spine. Caudal truncate. Scales 

 ciliated, except on snout and below eyes, where they are cycloid. 

 Lat. 1. 49, lat. tr. T 7 T . 



Colour (of preserved specimen), dark brown, ventrals and anal 

 black, a series of faint lines almost straight run upwards and back- 

 wards from head to dorsal fin. 



One specimen, 260 mm. in length, from Mr. Robinson, Natal. 



SCLENA PARVA, n. Sp. 



Depth of body 3 to 3-1- times in total length excluding caudal, 

 length of head 3 to 3^ times. Snout slightly less than interorbital 

 space and 1 to 1J times diameter of eye, which is 4 to 4^ times 

 in length of head. Preoperculum finely serrated, with a coarse tooth 

 at the angle, which is rounded, the spine is continued as a strong 

 ridge on the preoperculum ; operculum with 2 weak flat spines ; 

 distance from eye to upper jaw equals f diameter of eye ; snout 

 obtuse and rounded, upper jaw overlapping lower, cleft of mouth 

 slightly oblique, maxillary reaches to vertical of anterior third of 

 eye ; a row of 5 open pores under the symphysis of lower jaw. 



Dorsal x, i 27-31 ; spines weak, 2nd or 2nd and 3rd longest, 

 | length of head ; soft rays about the same height as longest spines. 

 Pectorals about f length of head ; ventrals about same length, the 

 1st ray being produced. Anal ii 7 ; 2nd spine moderately strong, 

 about ] length of head and f to f the length of longest soft rays, 

 which are slightly longer than the longest soft rays of the dorsal. 

 Caudal wedge-shaped, the middle rays longest. Scales ciliated 

 on body, cycloid on snout and below eyes. Tubes of lateral line 

 branched posteriorly. Lat. 1. 47, lat. tr. f. 



Three specimens, 93 mm., Ill mm., 126 mm. in length respec- 

 tively, the last being a female with large well-developed ovaries 

 (eggs '4 mm. in diameter) : procured by the ss. Pieter Faure in 



