Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 269 



Dorsal iii 14 ; commences nearer to point of snout than to base of 

 caudal, its entire base being midway between these points, concave 

 superiorly ; anterior rays -f- length of head and about -~ higher than 

 length of base of fin, last ray a little more than -f height of anterior 

 rays. Pectorals f length of head. Ventrals nearly | length of head, 

 inserted a little in advance of centre of dorsal fin. Anal iii 18-19 ; 

 low. Caudal deeply forked, slightly longer than head. Scales 

 regularly arranged, with crenulated or jagged edges, 43 in longi- 

 tudinal 14 in transverse series, 12 scutes behind ventrals 15 

 anteriorly. Abdominal profile very convex. 



Colour (of preserved specimens), dark above, yellowish on belly; a 

 dark spot on shoulder ; edge of dorsal and anal fins blackish. 



Two specimens, one 223 mm. in length, from Mr. Eomer Eobin- 

 son, Natal ; the other, 241 mm. in length, from Durban Museum. 



CLUPEA SAGAX, Jenyns. 

 (Sardine.) 



No teeth. Depth of body 5 times in total length excluding caudal, 

 length of head 4 times. Snout 1 T % times diameter of eye, which is 

 4 T L times in length of head ; interorbital width ^ diameter of eye ; 

 greatest height of head f its length. Lower jaw slightly projecting 

 beyond upper, maxillary reaches to vertical of middle of orbits ; 

 operculum with conspicuous radiating striae descending towards sub- 

 operculum ; gill-rakers fine, long and closely set, over 90 on hori- 

 zontal branch of outer branchial arch. 



Dorsal 19 ; originates nearer to point of snout than to base of 

 caudal, triangular, anterior rays about -| length of head, remainder 

 rapidly decreasing posteriorly. Pectorals -f length of head. Ven- 

 trals nearly f length of head, inserted below posterior half of dorsal. 

 Anal 16, low, its length equals postorbital region of head, last two 

 rays slightly elongate. Caudal deeply forked, nearly T % length of 

 head. Lat. 1. 50?; 12 abdominal scutes behind, 20 before base of 

 ventrals. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), dark above, light below ; a row 

 of small dark spots along the side. 



One specimen, 161 mm. in length, from Mr. Eomer Eobinson, 

 Natal ; not in very good condition. 



ALBULA CONORHYNCUS, Bl. et Schn. 



Depth of body nearly 4j times in total length excluding caudal, 

 length of head 3f times. Snout 2f times diameter of eye, which is 



