272 Annals of the South African Museum. 



of eye, which is a little more than ^ the interorbital width and 

 6^ times in length of head. A well-marked longitudinal groove in 

 front of each eye. 



Dorsal iii 30, commences above base of pectorals ; 1st spine very 

 strong and flattened laterally, its base being equal to vertical 

 diameter of eye and its height nearly -J- length of head. Soft dorsal 

 nearly the same height anteriorly as longest spine of 1st dorsal, 

 gradually curving to about -f- the height. Pectorals nearly - length 

 of head. Anal 26 ; similar to soft dorsal but not so high anteriorly. 

 Caudal oval, somewhat truncate posteriorly, nearly f length of head, 

 base fleshy and covered with small scales, peduncle very narrow. 

 Scales rough and graiiulated, covering head and cheeks to point 

 of snout ; some enlarged scutes behind gill-openings ; each scale of 

 the 8 or 9 rows about the median line on posterior third of body to 

 caudal has a rounded tubercle on it. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), brown, darker above than below ; 

 a whitish ring round lower jaw at a short distance from the lip, and 

 a more distinct white stripe running from it towards the pectorals, 

 which it does not quite reach. 



One specimen, 307 mm. in length, from Durban Museum. 



MONACANTHUS SETiFER, Benn. 



Depth of body nearly li times in total length excluding caudal, 

 length of head 3^ times. Snout nearly 3 times diameter of eye, 

 which is a little less than interorbital width and nearly 3f times in 

 length of head. Eyes placed high up at upper posterior angle of 

 head, over the gill-openings and just in front of dorsal spine ; profile 

 of head from dorsal spine to snout slightly concave and descending 

 at an angle of about 45. 



Dorsal i 32 ; spine strong, situated about midway between point 

 of snout and origin of soft dorsal and over posterior margin of eye, 

 rough anteriorly, and with a row of barbs on each side posteriorly 

 pointing downwards and slightly outwards. Soft dorsal has its 

 origin at the highest point of dorsal profile and is removed from 

 the single spine by a space nearly equal to the length of its base ; 

 anterior rays about f height of dorsal spine, decreasing posteriorly 

 to about i its height. Pectorals ^ length of head, and situated 

 below posterior half of eye. Ventral spine small, movable. Anal 

 33; similar and opposed to soft dorsal. Caudal rounded, middle 

 rays longest, ~ length of head. Scales small, skin with a velvety 

 appearance. 



