260 Annals of the South African Museum. 



gradually lengthen to the last, which is -fa height of 3rd spine. Soft 

 portion of fin higher than spinous, middle rays longest and about 

 1-f height of 3rd spine, margin of fin rounded. Pectorals nearly 

 -| length of head. Ventrals anterior rays elongate, -| length of head. 

 Anal iii 9 ; situated below soft dorsal and similar to it, 2nd and 

 3rd spines about equal in length. Caudal truncate, slightly more 

 than % length of head. Lower portion of soft dorsal, anal, and 

 caudal covered with small scales. Lat. 1. 46. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), uniform dark brown, small white 

 spots on head in front of preoperculum. 



One specimen, 595 mm. in length, from Mr. Eomer Robinson, 

 Natal. 



CH^KOPSODES, n. g. 



Body compressed, oblong, covered with large scales ; snout 

 conical, small scales on cheeks not imbricate, opercles scaly. Four 

 strong conical free teeth in each jaw anteriorly ; posterior canines 

 present ; teeth on side of jaw confluent in an osseous ridge. Spines 

 (xi) separate, about equal in number to rays (12). Lateral line 

 continuous. 



CH^EOPSODES PICTUS, n. sp. 

 (Parrot-fish.) 



Teeth, 4 strong canines in front on either jaw, the inner pair on 

 lower jaw being small, lateral teeth in a continuous cutting edge, 

 2 small canines at angle of upper jaw on left side. Depth of body 

 2-f times in total length excluding caudal, length of head 3 times. 

 Snout 3 times diameter of eye, which is about ^ interorbital width 

 and 7 times in length of head. Preorbital emarginate, its least depth 

 about twice diameter of eye ; serrature of preoperculum indistinct, 

 minute; upper lip thick, cleft of mouth oblique, maxillary hidden by 

 preorbital and reaches to vertical of anterior nostril ; interorbital 

 space convex. 



Dorsal xi 12 ; commences above base of pectorals ; spines short, 

 strong, and embedded in thick skin, which is produced as a short 

 lobe covering the end of each spine, interspinous membrane very 

 deeply cleft ; 1st spine shorter, the remainder subequal and about 

 i length of head ; anterior soft rays about same height as adjacent 

 spines, the remainder rising to ly 7 ^ height of longest spine. Pectorals 

 -fa length of head, superior rays longest. "Ventrals reach to origin of 

 anal, the first 2 rays elongated, a little more than length of head. 



