256 Annals of the South African Museum. 



middle of pectorals and rather shorter, the spine is f the height of 

 the adjacent ray. Anal i 9 ; situated below soft dorsal, similar and 

 about the same height. Caudal forked, f length of head. Scales, 

 6 rows between lateral line and base of dorsal ; opercles scaly. Lat. 

 1.85. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), greyish brown, light underneath ; 

 fins dark. 



One specimen, 275 mm. in length, from Inner Harbour, Durban. 



SPHYB.ZENA AFRICANA, n. sp. 



Teeth, small in upper jaw, a strong fang behind which is a 

 smaller one on each side of symphysis ; strong isolated teeth in- 

 creasing in length posteriorly on lower jaw, with a single central 

 fang directed backwards at symphysis, strong fangs on anterior part 

 of palatines with smaller teeth posteriorly ; a median band of minute 

 teeth on tongue. Depth of body 7 times in total length excluding 

 caudal, length of head a little more than 3 times. Snout 2^ times 

 diameter of eye, which equals interorbital width and is a little more 

 than 5 times in length of head ; height of head slightly more than 

 J its length, depth nearly-^. Lower jaw projects beyond upper, with 

 a slight obtuse conical protuberance in front ; maxillary reaches to 

 vertical of anterior margin of eye ; preoperculum emarginate, angle 

 rounded ; operculum ends in a single point. 



Dorsal v, i 9 ; the 1st dorsal commences behind or at extremity of 

 pectorals and a little in advance of origin of ventrals, the interspace 

 between the two dorsals is more than 4- length of head and equals 

 the length of head behind anterior margin of eye. Anterior spines 

 of 1st dorsal nearly T 3 ^ length of head, remainder successively 

 decreasing ; anterior rays of soft dorsal about equal in height to 

 anterior spines of 1st dorsal, and upper edge of fin concave. Pec- 

 torals f length of head. Ventrals J length of head. Anal i 9; 

 situated below soft dorsal, similar and about the same height. 

 Caudal deeply forked, lower lobe longer than upper and f length of 

 head. Scales on opercles ; 12 rows between lateral line and base of 

 1st dorsal fin. Lat. 1. 108, lat. tr. ||. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), numerous dark brown spots 

 above, silvery below, each scale with a brown spot, lateral line 

 dark brown. 



One specimen, 203 mm. in length, from Mr. Eomer Eobinson, 

 Natal. 



It does not seem to agree with any described species, of which, 

 however, it may be an immature form. 



