216 Annals of the South African Museum. 



with cycloid scales, snout and maxillary partially scaled, the scales 

 on maxillary being ^ the length of those on cheek. 



Dorsal ix 15-16 ; originating above base of pectorals ; spines 

 strong, increasing in length to 3rd, which is fV length of head and 

 considerably shorter than posterior soft rays, which are about f 

 length of head. Pectorals T 7 Q- to length of head. Ventrals i to 

 f length of head. Anal iii 9 ; 2nd and 3rd spines about equal, 

 slightly longer than longest dorsal spine ; soft rays longer than 

 those of soft dorsal and a little more than -| length of head. 

 Caudal rounded, middle rays longest, length of head. Scales 100^-J} 

 (circa), lat. 1. 50 (circa) ; scales of posterior half of body ciliated. 



Colour (when fresh), very brilliant. The ground colour is orange 

 with numerous blue spots on head, body, and fins ; pectorals are 

 golden at extremity, shading into orange at base, where there are 

 two blue spots ; dorsal scarlet and spotted at upper edge ; caudal 

 closely spotted ; ventrals crimson with upper edge blue, dark orange 

 spotted and edged below with blue. In the preserved state the spots 

 only remain and are of a dark brown colour. 



Two specimens, 230 mm. and 200 mm. in length respectively, 

 from Mr. Homer Kobinson, Natal, who kindly supplies a note of the 

 colour. 



EPINEPHELUS ALBOMABGINATUS, Blgr. 



Teeth, in narrow bands, in 2 series on sides of mandibles; canines 

 strong. Depth of body equals length of head and about 3 times in 

 total length excluding caudal. Snout as long as diameter of eye, 

 which is 4 times in length of head ; interorbital width 5 times in 

 length of head; lower jaw projecting beyond upper; maxillary 

 reaches vertical of posterior border of eye, width of its distal 

 extremity 5 diameter of eye ; preoperculum finely serrated, emarginate 

 above angle, which is rounded and has 3 or 4 enlarged seme; middle 

 opercular spine slightly nearer lower than upper, lower spine further 

 back than upper, opercular flap pointed; head nearly entirely 

 covered with cycloid scales, maxillary naked. Gill-rakers 13 to 

 15 on lower part of anterior arch, the longest as long as the 

 gill-fringes. 



Dorsal xi 14 ; originating above base of pectorals ; 3rd to 5th 

 spines longest, about ^ length of head, shorter than soft rays. 

 Pectorals f length of head, scarcely longer than ventrals. Anal 

 iii 8 ; 3rd spine longest, f length of head ; longest soft rays about 

 JT length of head. Caudal rounded, subtruncate, ^- length of head. 

 Scales ciliated, 112 (circa); lat. 1. 63. 



