220 Annals of the South African Museum. 



the adjoining ray. Anal iii 8 ; 2nd spine shorter than 3rd, which is 

 nearly as long as last spine of dorsal and % height of longest anal 

 rays. Caudal rounded, a little more than % length of head. Scales 

 105 -\\' it mostly feebly ciliated, with rows of minute scales at their 

 base. 



Colour (of preserved specimen) brown with three or four irregular 

 dark transverse bands ; body reticulated with dark brown in places ; 

 fins covered with irregular brown spots disposed in irregular rows. 



One specimen, 357 mm. in length, from Durban Museum. 



(?) EPINEPHELUS MELAS (Peters). 



Teeth, in 3 or 4 series on sides of mandibles ; canines moderate. 

 Depth of body equals length of head and slightly over 3 times in 

 total length excluding caudal. Snout a little longer than diameter 

 of eye, which is about 5f times in length of head ; interorbital width 

 6 times in length of head; lower jaw projecting beyond upper; 

 maxillary extends about i diameter of eye beyond vertical of posterior 

 margin of orbit, the width of its distal extremity equals ;f diameter 

 of eye ; preopercular border rounded, finely serrated behind, serrae 

 enlarged at angle ; opercular spines about equidistant, lower further 

 back than upper, opercular flap obtusely pointed and upper margin 

 slightly rounded; head covered with cycloid scales, maxillary 

 covered with minute scales ; gill-rakers moderate, 16 on lower part 

 of anterior arch. 



Dorsal xi 15 ; originates above base of pectorals ; spines increasing 

 in length to 4th which is ^ length of head, a little longer than last 

 spine and a little shorter than longest soft rays. Pectorals f length 

 of head. Ventrals about i length of head, not reaching anus. Anal 

 iii 8 ; 2nd spine as long as 3rd, ^ length of head and f height of 

 longest soft rays. Caudal sub-truncate, slightly rounded, nearly 

 length of head. Scales cycloid, 981-}, i a t. 1. 68 ('?). 



Colour (of preserved specimen) very dark brown, almost black, 

 with faint large round dark spots. 



One specimen, 278 mm. in length, from Mr. Bonier Kobinson, 

 Natal. 



EPINEPHELUS TAUVINA, Forsk. 



Teeth, in 3 series on sides of mandibles ; canines small. Depth of 

 body about 3 to 3^ times in total length excluding caudal, length of 

 head 2f to nearly 3 times. Snout 1^ to 1 times diameter of eye, 

 which is 5^- to 6i times in length of head ; interorbital width 5 to 6 

 times in length of head; lower jaw projecting beyond upper; 



