Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 191 



Depth of body nearly 3f times in total length excluding caudal, 

 length of head 3 times ; greatest width of head slightly greater 

 than its length. Snout diameter of eye, which equals interorbital 

 width and is 4J times in length of head. Eyes situated at upper 

 surface of head and far forward ; cleft of mouth nearly vertical, 

 lower lip with papillae, lower jaw projects ; anterior nostril with a 

 flap ; preoperculum with 4 or 5 spines on lower limb ; preorbital 

 with 2 strong spines ; 2 spines on scapula ; a long strong spine on 

 humerus 1^ times diameter of eye in length ; 2 bony projections or 

 blunt spines on occiput ; posterior edge of membrane of opercle 

 fringed ; a sharp spine, pointing forward, on each side of isthmus 

 anteriorly. 



Dorsal iv 13 ; spines very weak and flexible, about J length of 

 head ; longest soft rays 1^ times height of spines, remainder 

 decreasing posteriorly. Pectorals f, ventrals -| length of head. 

 Anal 13 ; rays lower anteriorly and lengthening posteriorly to about 

 height of longest rays of soft dorsal. Caudal f length of head, 

 slightly rounded. Lateral line curves slightly upwards from 

 shoulder to extremity of spinous dorsal and continues close to 

 base of soft dorsal for the rest of its length. Scales on head and 

 fore part of body embedded in skin, on remainder of body in 

 diagonal rows. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), yellowish brown, spinous dorsal 

 black. 



One specimen, 122 mm. in length, caught by the ss. Pieter Faure 

 in shrimp trawl, 46-55 frns., mud and sand, Tugela Eiver mouth 

 N. by W. 18 miles. 



FAMILY TRACHINID^S. 



PBECIS NEBULOSA, C. and V. 

 (Sand Smelt.) 



Teeth, an anterior row of about a dozen enlarged and slightly 

 curved teeth on upper jaw, and about 8 strong recurved teeth 

 anteriorly on lower jaw, with some enlarged lateral teeth on 

 mandibles ; a curved row of rounded teeth on vomer. Depth of 

 body 6f times in total length excluding caudal, length of head 

 3~ times. Snout about 2^- times greatest diameter of eye, which is 

 slightly less than interorbital width and a little over 5^ times in 

 length of head. Head flat, its height nearly -J- its length, and its 



