Desertions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 193 



SILLAGO CHONDROPUS, Bleek. 



Teeth, villiform in both jaws, a broad band on vomer. Depth of 

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

 4 times. Snout 3 times diameter of eye, which is 1J times in inter- 

 orbital width and 7 times in length of head. Head depressed, profile 

 in an almost straight line from nape to snout ; preoperculum finely 

 serrated ; operculurn with a strong flat spine ; cleft of mouth small, 

 maxillary scarcely reaches vertical of anterior nostril ; greatest 

 width of head about - its length, greatest depth a little less than 

 half; a deep open pore below symphysis of lower jaw. 



Dorsal xi, i 20 ; spines of 1st dorsal flexible, the 2nd and 3rd 

 spines being subequal a little over ^ length of head and about the 

 height of the body below them ; 2nd dorsal is higher anteriorly, 

 T 7 -o the height of longest spine of 1st dorsal. Pectorals a little more 

 than 4 length of head, covered with scales on their lower half. 

 Ventrals ^ length of head, the spine shortened and thickened into a 

 falciform club y 7 ^ the length of the longest ray. Anal i 23 ; similar 

 to soft dorsal but not so high. Caudal (damaged in specimen) 

 covered with scales on lower half. Scales in regular horizontal rows, 

 extending over cheeks, below eyes as far forward as the anterior 

 nostril, and on dorsal and anal fins. Lateral line descends very 

 gently to posterior third of body. Lat. 1. 70, lat. tr. T V 



Colour (of preserved specimen), uniform grey. 



One specimen, 300 mm. in length, from Durban Museum. 



FAMILY COTTIDJE. 



PLATYCEPHALUS SCABER, Gtinth. 



Teeth, a narrow band on upper jaw, broadened at symphysis, a 

 single series laterally on lower jaw merging into about 3 rows at 

 symphysis ; two small patches on vomer, an elongated band on each 

 palatine. Depth of body 64- times in total length excluding caudal, 

 length of head 2 T 7 ^ times. Snout equals diameter of eye, which is 

 2f times interorbital width and 3 T 7 o times in length of head. Inter- 

 orbital space concave ; greatest width of head f its length, greatest 

 height a little over f length, head and snout depressed ; width of 

 mouth about 24- times its depth, maxillary reaches vertical of anterior 

 third of orbits ; 2 or 3 strong spines at anterior upper margin of 

 orbits ; supraorbital margin serrated, from it a spinate ridge extends 



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