2 Annals of the South African Museum. 



The dorsal fin is placed more anteriorly than in Palaoniscus 

 macropomns, and the distance between the pectoral and pelvic fins is 

 also less. The front of the dorsal fin is opposite the point midway 

 between the front of the pectoral and pelvic fins. The dorsal fin has 

 38 rays, of which the 9th is the longest. Distinct fulcra are 

 present. All the rays are jointed. The anterior short rays and 

 the first three of the long ones are undivided, but the later rays 

 are all bifurcated at their tips. 



The structure of the pectoral arid pelvic fins cannot be very clearly 

 made out. The rays are jointed and apparently bifurcated. 



The anal fin is of moderate size. It consists of 52 rays, all jointed, 

 and the posterior ones bifurcated distally. There are well-developed 

 fulcra. 



The caudal fin is large and deeply bifurcated. The lower lobe is 

 smaller than the upper. 



The scales on the anterior part of the body are ornamented by a 

 series of obtuse ridges. On the upper part of the scale the ridges 

 run backwards a short distance, then curve downwards and run 

 parallel to the posterior border of the scale. From the anterior 

 border of the scale other ridges run backwards, stopping at the 

 point where the descending ridges would meet them. On the 

 posterior scales there are only a few transverse blunt ridges on 

 the anterior part of the scale. The scales on the ventral surface 

 between the pectoral and pelvic fins are considerably enlarged. 

 Between the pelvic and anal fins are a number of enlarged scales. 

 Two moderately large scales are placed on either side just in front 

 of the anal fin, and in front of these two is a much larger median 

 scale. Enlarged median scales are also placed over the upper lobe 

 of the tail largest at its base. 



ELONICHTHYS WHAITSI, sp. nov. 



This very fine fish was discovered by the Rev. J. H. Whaits on 

 the farm Droogvoets, Praserburg District. The specimen is nearly 

 complete, only a portion of the upper border being lost. The head 

 is crushed and not well preserved. 



The total length of the type is 280 mm., and the greatest depth of 

 the body is probably 80 mm. 



The fins are large and powerful. The dorsal is situated about the 

 middle of the body, and the anal begins a little in front of the 

 posterior part of the dorsal. 



The most of the front of the dorsal fin is missing, but there are 



