Descriptions of Fishes from tJic Coast of Natal. 251 



. 1|- times diameter of eye, which is about 1^- times in interorbital 

 width and a little over 4 to 4|- times in length of head. Profile of 

 head flat on top with a bulge at anterior upper angle of orbits, from 

 which it descends rapidly to point of snout at an angle of about 45. 

 Preorbital, least depth a little greater than diameter of eye. Pre- 

 operculum finely serrated, more coarsely so at angle ; operculum 

 with a blunt inconspicuous spine ; cleft of mouth slightly oblique ; 

 maxillary reaches to vertical of posterior nostril ; jaws equal ; eyes 

 prominent and placed high in the head ; a ridge on nape from orbits 

 to origin of dorsal. 



Dorsal vii 14 ; commences above base of pectorals, spines weak ; 

 soft portion of fin higher than spinous, posterior rays longest and 

 more than \ length of head. Pectorals pointed, 5th and 6th rays 

 longest, nearly as long as head and reaching to vent, rays divided. 

 Ventrals a little more than \ length of head. Anal ii 12 ; similar to 

 soft dorsal but not so high. Caudal truncate, f to f length of head. 

 Scales moderately large, ciliated and extending over opercles and 



cheeks. Lat. 1. 60-63, lat. tr. J^. 



Colour (of preserved specimens), uniform whitish-brown, the 

 dorsal crest black, as is also the basal part of the dorsal fin. 



Two specimens, 325 mm. and 380 mm. in length respectively, 

 procured by ss. Pieter Faure in 46-55 fms. mud, Tugela mouth, 

 N. by W. 18 miles. 



FAMILY PSEUDOCHEOMIDES. 



OPISTHOGNATHUS MUSCATENSIS, Blgr. 



Teeth, small, in two or three irregular rows in front and a single 

 row behind. Depth of body slightly over 4 times in total length 

 excluding caudal, length of head 3-J times. Snout a little greater 

 than interorbital width and f diameter of eye, which is nearly 

 4 times in length of head and placed high up and far forward. Snout 

 obtuse, cleft of mouth reaches much beyond posterior margin of 

 eye, maxillary truncated and produced to li- times diameter of eye 

 behind orbits. A pair of short tubercles on snout above symphysis 

 of jaw ; head covered with minute pores ; greatest width of head 

 nearly its length, greatest height equals T 7 ^ length ; gill-openings 

 wide, almost reaching to nape. 



Dorsal 26 (xi 15 ?) ; spines very weak and about same length as 

 soft rays. Pectorals 19, broad and with rounded edge, -J length of 



