Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 255 



of preoperculum rounded, with a short spine pointing downwards 

 and slightly forwards. 



Dorsal vi, i. 8 ; commencing about midway between origin of 

 ventrals and anus. Spinous dorsal lower than the soft ; the spines 

 weak, about -| depth of body and -f length of head ; soft dorsal lower 

 anteriorly, the posterior rays i length of head. Pectorals broad and 

 rounded, f length of head. Ventrals i 5 ; nearly -f length of head. 

 Anal i 8 ; commences below origin of soft dorsal, very similar to it 

 and about the same height. Caudal wedge-shaped, f length of head. 

 Scales on body feebly ctenoid, those on upper surface of head minute 

 and extending to between the orbits ; 16 rows between anterior 

 extremities of 2nd dorsal and anal fins, 14 rows between their 

 posterior extremities. Lat. 1. 63 (approx.). 



Colour (of preserved specimen), uniform dark brown. 



One specimen, 136 mm. in length, from Durban Museum. 



FAMILY 



SPHYILENA COMMEKSONII, C. and V. 



Teeth, small fine teeth on upper jaw, with a large fang accom- 

 panied by 2 smaller teeth anteriorly and 1 posteriorly on each side 

 of syrnphysis ; a row of strong pointed teeth on lower jaw with 

 1 anterior central fang directed backwards at symphysis ; large fangs 

 in front on palatines followed by a single row of smaller teeth ; 

 minute teeth on tongue. Depth of body nearly 7 times in total 

 length excluding caudal, length of head 3^ times ; breadth of head 

 |- its height, which equals the postorbital length. Snout 2f times 

 diameter of eye, which equals the interorbital width and is 5-f times 

 in length of head. Lower jaw longer than upper and terminating in 

 a fleshy knob, maxillary reaches to vertical of anterior nostril ; angle 

 of preopercle slightly rounded ; opercle ends in a single point ; 

 orbital ring and margin of preorbital striated. 



Dorsal v, i 9 ; 1st dorsal commences behind extremity of pectorals 

 and slightly in front of extremity of ventrals, situated in middle of 

 body excluding caudal ; spines weak, the 2nd is the longest and 

 about ^ length of head ; the interspace between the two dorsal fins 

 equals of the total length of the body excluding caudal. Anterior 

 rays of soft dorsal about 1 times length of longest spine of 1st dorsal, 

 the remainder decreasing in length except the last, which is a little 

 produced. Pectorals -^ length of head. Ventrals inserted behind 



