Descriptions of Fishes from tJie Coast of Natal. 35 



dorsal and anal fins margined with black, the outer edge of anal 

 being slightly tipped with white ; two black bands on caudal, the 

 anterior of which is broader and crescent-shaped ; about 6 dark 

 lines passing upwards and backwards from opercle to base of 

 spinous dorsal, with numerous others passing downwards and 

 backwards from the lowest of these lines to the belly and anal fin. 

 One specimen, 107 mm. in length, from Mr. Eomer Eobinson, 

 Natal, who mentions that when fresh the tail and posterior half of 

 the body are of an orange colour, and that there are orange stripes 

 across the snout and above the eye. 



FAMILY SPARED^. 



GEN. PAGEUS, Cuv. 



PAGBUS SPINIFEE, Forsk. 



Teeth, 4 conical incisors on each jaw, with rounded teeth behind 

 them ; 2 series of rounded molars along the sides of the jaws. 

 Depth of body 2J times in total length excluding caudal, length of 

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

 If times in interorbital width and 5 times in length of head. Dorsal 

 profile elevated, with a protuberance in front of the eyes ; maxillary 

 reaches to vertical of posterior nostril ; preorbital deep, nearly twice 

 diameter of eye in height ; 6 or 7 rows of scales between preorbital 

 and angle of preoperculum ; preopercle crenellated at angle and 

 along lower limb ; operculum with 2 blunt inconspicuous points. 



Dorsal xii 10 ; compressed and flexible, first 2 spines very short, 

 3rd to 5th spines elongate ; 3rd spine longest and equals length of 

 head, the interspinous membrane cleft to base of 4th and the mem- 

 branes between the rest of the spines deeply emarginate. Pectorals 

 If times length of head, reaching to posterior 3rd of anal. Ventrals 

 over ^ length of head, reaching to anus ; the spine nearly f length 

 of longest ray. Anal iii 8 ; 2nd spine a little stronger and slightly 

 longer than 3rd and f length of head. Caudal emarginate and a 

 little longer than head. Scales cycloid. Lat. 1. 54, lat. tr. T 7 ^. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), whitish, a black spot on axil. 



One specimen, 375 mm. in length, from Mr. Eorner Eobinson, 

 Natal. 



The diameter of the eye is greater in description of P. spinifer 

 than in this specimen, which is, however, probably larger. 



