Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 253 



half the length ; 3rd spine nearly as long as the other two, and with 

 a flap of skin posteriorly but not reaching to soft dorsal. Skin 

 covered with rough spines which are bifid, and with some small 

 cutaneous filaments. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), brown streaked and spotted with 

 black, fins lighter brown streaked and spotted with black, belly 

 without markings. 



One specimen, 118 mm. in length, from Durban Museum. 



FAMILY COTTID^. 



PLATYCEPHALUS MALABABICUS, C. and V. 



Teeth, villiform on jaws, in two parallel bands on vomer, a long 

 narrow band on palatines. Depth of body 8J times in total length 

 excluding caudal, length of head 3i to 3^ times. Snout If to twice 

 diameter of eye, which is 5^ to 5f times in length of head ; inter- 

 orbital width f to f diameter of eye ; width of head between pre- 

 opercular spines equals f to f its length ; interorbital space slightly 

 concave ; maxillary reaches to vertical of anterior third of orbits. 

 Supraorbital margin with 6 or 7 teeth, the ridge extending from it to 

 occiput with 1 or 2 teeth ; a bony ridge from posterior margin of eye 

 to shoulder spine with 3 or 4 teeth ; a strong spine at angle of pre- 

 operculum with a very small one at its base superiorly, and inferiorly 

 a larger one directed downwards and backwards ; a bony ridge 

 across preorbital to preopercular spine, with 2 or 3 teeth ; anterior 

 nostril with a flap ; a small spine above axilla. 



Dorsal i, viii 12 ; spines weak, 4th longest and nearly f length of 

 head ; 2nd dorsal anteriorly about as high as the 1st. Pectorals 

 nearly \ length of head. Ventrals f to ^ length of head, reaching to 

 anal. Anal 12 ; commencing below 2nd ray of 2nd dorsal, rays low. 

 Caudal truncate, over \ length of head. Scales ctenoid, 8 rows 

 between base of spinous dorsal and lateral line. Lat. 1. 78, lat. 

 tr. A (?). 



Colour (of preserved specimens), uniform brown, lighter below. 



Two specimens, 182 mm. and 215 mm. in length respectively, 

 from Durban Museum. 



