224 Annals of the South African Museum. 



distal extremity nearly f diameter of eye ; preoperculum finely 

 serrated on vertical border, emarginate above the angle which is 

 rounded and has slightly enlarged seme ; opercular spines about 

 equidistant, lower further back than upper, median strongly 

 developed, opercular flap pointed ; head nearly entirely covered 

 with small cycloid scales, maxillary with minute scales ; gill-rakers 

 moderate, 15 or 16 on lower part of anterior arch. 



Dorsal xi 16 ; originating above base of pectorals ; spines increas- 

 ing in length to 3rd and 4th which are about ^ length of head, last 

 spine J length of head ; longest soft rays nearly -f length of head. 

 Pectorals nearly f length of head. Ventrals a little more than 

 J- length of head, not quite reaching to anus. Anal iii 8 ; 2nd and 

 3rd spines about equal and about ^ length of head ; longest soft 

 rays nearly ^ length of head. Caudal subtruncate, f length of head. 



Scales on body ciliated. Lat. 1. 56, sc. 100-108 ^^. 



Colour (when fresh), body and fins vermillion red. The inter- 

 spinous membrane behind tip of each dorsal spine has a dark brown 

 triangular blotch at its free edge ; these blotches remain as black 

 marks in the preserved state, when all the other colouring has been 

 bleached out. 



Two specimens, one 273 mm. in length from the Durban market, 

 the other 203 mm. in length from Durban Museum. 



EPINEPHELUS, sp. A (juv.). 



Teeth, in 2 series on mandibles ; canines not apparent. Depth of 

 body a little more than 3 times in total length excluding caudal, 

 length of head 2 T 7 jj times. Snout short, about f diameter of eye, 

 which is 3f times in length of head ; interorbital width 5f times 

 in length of head ; jaws about equal ; maxillary reaches to vertical 

 of middle of eye, the width of its distal extremity equals ^ diameter 

 of eye ; preoperculum serrated, with enlarged serrae at the angle 

 which is obtusely rounded ; lower opercular spine slightly nearer 

 median and further back than upper, opercular flap pointed and 

 upper margin concave ; head covered with cycloid scales, scales on 

 maxillary ; gill-rakers nearly as long as gill-fringes, 12 on lower 

 portion of anterior arch. 



Dorsal xi 16 ; originates above base of pectorals ; 4th and 5th 

 spines longest, a little over -J- length of head and i height of longest 

 soft rays. Pectorals ^ length of head. Ventrals -f- length of head, 

 reaching to anus. Anal iii 8 ; 2nd and 3rd spines about equal, 

 | length of head and i height of longest soft rays which are slightly 



