Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 239 



Dorsal 128 ; commences over hind margin of preoperculum, rays 

 weak and filamentous, low anteriorly, the highest which are in the 

 posterior half of the body about f length of head. Pectorals 

 nearly length of head. No ventrals. Anal in the form of about 

 68 free spines which are minute but distinct. No caudal fin, the 

 tail tapering to a point at a distance rather more than the length of 

 the head from last ray of dorsal. Lateral line passes downwards 

 behind pectorals to lower third of side. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), silvery with a large black blotch 

 about middle of body passing through dorsal rays ; dorsal and 

 pectorals light-coloured with dark extremities, caudal black. 



One specimen, 842 mm. in length, including tail, from Mr. Eomer 

 Robinson, Natal. 



FAMILY CAEANGID^E. 



CAKANX ROTTLEBI, Bl. 



Teeth, villiform on upper jaw with an outer row of rather widely 

 separated conical ones ; in 2 or 3 rows at symphysis of lower jaw 

 with a single lateral row ; teeth on vomer palatines and tongue. 

 Depth of body 3J times in total length excluding caudal, length of 

 head nearly 4 times. Snout, diameter of eye and interorbital width 

 are equal and a little more than 3| times in length of head. Eye 

 with a broad anterior and posterior adipose lid, both covering a 

 portion of the pupil ; greatest width of head slightly more than % its 

 length, its height equals the length behind anterior margin of eye ; 

 lower jaw longer than upper, maxillary reaches to vertical of 

 middle of eye ; there is a gradual ascent from the snout to the origin 

 of the dorsal fin, and the dorsal and abdominal profiles are about 

 equally convex. 



Dorsal viii, i 10, ix ; spines of first dorsal moderately strong, 3rd 

 spine highest and nearly f height of body ; anterior soft rays of 

 second dorsal about i height of body, with 9 detached rays 

 posteriorly. Pectorals falciform and 1-|- times length of head, reach- 

 ing to about 20th plate on lateral line. Ventrals about ^ length of 

 head. Anal ii, i 8, viii ; similar in form to soft dorsal but slightly 

 lower and with 8 free posterior rays. Caudal deeply forked. An 

 oval patch of scales on the central line in front of ventral fins, the 

 breast otherwise being scaleless. Lateral line makes a short strong 

 curve anteriorly, the height of which equals ^ its length, becoming 



