Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 247 



concave, anterior soft rays nearly i height of longest spine of 1st 

 dorsal ; finlets commence just behind the fin and are opposite and 

 similar to those of anal. Pectorals nearly f length of head. Ven- 

 trals a little more than length of head. Anal i, i 11, v ; similar 

 to soft dorsal and about the same height. Caudal deeply forked, 

 - length of head. Scales on upper portion of operculurn and top 

 of head as far as the eyes. Lat. 1. sc. 200 (circa). 



Colour (of preserved specimen), greenish black on upper half of 

 body, with about 30 wavy chevron-like black transverse streaks; 

 lower part of body light-coloured ; body and fins covered with 

 numerous minute dark brown specks, lower half of caudal brown 

 with an oblique white streak at base of each lobe. 



One specimen, 184 mm. in length, from Mr. Eorner Eobinson, 

 Natal. 



SCOMBER MICBOLEPIDOTUS, Eiipp. 



Teeth, in a single series, none on vomer or palate. Depth of body 

 slightly greater than length of head and nearly 3f times in total 

 length excluding caudal. Snout equals the interorbital width and 

 slightly longer than diameter of eye, which is nearly 4 times in 

 length of head ; jaws about equal, cleft of mouth deep, maxillary 

 concealed by preorbital ; length of preorbital nearly i that of the 

 head, its greatest depth a little more than -f- diameter of eye ; inter- 

 orbital space flat. 



Dorsal xi, i 11, v ; spines of first dorsal weak, receivable into 

 a groove; 2nd spine longest and nearly f length of head, remainder 

 decrease rapidly in length posteriorly. Distance between 1st and 

 2nd dorsals equals about ^ the length of the base of the latter ; the 

 upper edge of second dorsal concave, anterior ray about ^- length of 

 head ; finlets commence just behind second dorsal and are similar 

 and opposite to those of anal. Pectorals short, slightly more than 

 | length of head. Yentrals nearly | length of head. Anal i 11, v ; 

 similar to soft dorsal and about same height. Caudal with deeply 

 pointed lobes, about i length of head. Scales rather larger below 

 pectoral fin, minute scales on soft dorsal and anal fins. Lateral line 

 slightly curved; sc. 150 (circa). 



Colour (of preserved specimen), dark bluish brown above, 

 yellowish below median line ; dorsal pectoral and caudal fins 

 covered with minute dark specks, a row of dark spots along base 

 of caudal. 



One specimen, 155 mm. in length, from Mr. Bonier Robinson, 

 Natal ; apparently an immature specimen. 



