188 Annals of the South African Museum. 



slightly longer than lower, cleft of mouth slightly oblique, maxillary 

 reaches almost to vertical of middle of orbits ; eyes in lower half of 

 head; the profile of head from dorsal fin to snout rounded. 



Dorsal vi, i 23 ; spines of 1st dorsal very short ; anterior ray of 

 soft dorsal highest, f length of head and nearly ^ height of body, 

 when laid back reaching beyond centre of fin, the last 17 rays 

 parallel with curve of back. Pectorals, upper rays longest, over 

 -| length of head. Ventrals nearly | length of head. Anal ii, i 20 ; 

 similar to soft dorsal, but anterior rays only the height ; last 

 15 rays parallel with abdominal curve. Caudal forked (damaged in 

 specimen). Lateral line ascends slightly anteriorly, then curves 

 irregularly downwards to opposite the base of the 10th or llth ray 

 of soft dorsal and thence proceeds straight to caudal. Scales 

 cycloid. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), dark above, white below. 



One specimen, 258 mm. in length, from Mr. Eobinson, Natal. 



PLATAX TEIRA, Forsk. 



Depth of body slightly over total length excluding caudal, length 

 of head 3f times in total length excluding caudal. Snout equals 

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

 3^ times in length of head. Profile of head and snout very obtuse ; 

 cleft of mouth small, maxillary scarcely reaches to anterior margin 

 of eye ; greatest depth of preorbital equals ~ diameter of eye ; angle 

 of preoperculum rounded and entire. 



Dorsal v 31 ; anterior soft rays very prolonged, equal the total 

 length of the body including caudal. Pectorals f length of head. 

 Ventrals, upper rays prolonged, equal f- length of body without 

 caudal or 2f times length of head. Anal iii 24 ; similar to soft 

 dorsal, but rays not so prolonged, about height of longest soft 

 ray of dorsal. Caudal with central rays slightly prolonged, making 

 posterior end of fin slightly concave in either half. Scales ctenoid ; 

 lat. 1. 62, irregularly curved. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), dark with three faint black bands 

 across head and body ; ventrals black. 



One specimen, 126 mm. in length, from Durban Museum. 



EQUULA EDENTULA, Bl. 

 (Slimy.) 



Teeth, a single row of villiform teeth on upper jaw, a narrow 

 band on lower. Depth of body If times to twice in total length 



