Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 43 



MUGIL NATALENSIS, Cast. 



(Flathead Mullet.) 



Depth of body 3 T % times in total length excluding caudal, length 

 of head 4^- times. Snout equals diameter of eye, which is a little 

 more than 2|- times in interorbital width and 4f times in length of 

 head. Eye with a very narrow posterior adipose lid ; interorbital 

 space slightly convex and nearly -J- length of head ; cleft of mouth 

 twice as broad as deep, maxillary almost entirely concealed ; pre- 

 orbital strongly serrated ; upper lip thickened in the centre ; nostrils 

 close together ; uncovered space on chin long and lanceolate ; width 

 of head equals its length behind the middle of the eye, its height 

 about the same. 



Dorsal iv, i 8 ; commencing midway between base of caudal and 

 middle of eye, spines moderately strong, 1st spine longest, about 

 length of head ; soft dorsal emarginate, covered with scales, length 

 of base about 4 height of anterior rays, w T hich are not quite as 

 high as longest spine of 1st dorsal. Pectorals f length of head and 

 situated about the middle of the depth of the body. Ventrals about 

 ^g- length of head, and arise on the vertical of midway between base 

 of pectorals and 1st spine of dorsal. Anal iii 9 ; slightly higher 

 anteriorly than 2nd dorsal, its base equals about i its height ; 3rd 

 spine about T 3 length of head and nearly 1J times the length of the 

 2nd. Caudal deeply emarginate, slightly more than length of head. 

 Scales 25 rows between snout and spinous dorsal ; 14th and 27th 

 scales of lateral line correspond to origin of spinous and soft 

 dorsals ; preorbital scaled ; scales on all fins except 1st dorsal ; no 

 elongated axillary scale. Lat. 1. 42, lat. tr. 14^-. 



One specimen, 270 mm. in length, from Mr. Eomer Eobinson, 

 Natal ; taken in tidal waters, common. 



MUGIL CEYLONENSIS, Gthr. 

 (Blue-tail Mullet.) 



No teeth. Depth of body slightly more than 3 times in total 

 length excluding caudal, length of head 4i times. Snout nearly 

 J diameter of eye, which is 4^ times in length of head ; inter- 

 orbital width \ length of head ; greatest width of head nearly f its 

 length, greatest height -| its length. Snout short, broad, obtuse ; 

 upper jaw overhangs lower; lower lip thin with a tubercle at 

 symphysis which fits into a corresponding notch on upper lip which 

 is moderately thick ; maxillary hidden by preorbital, which has its 

 lower margin finely serrated and bent and its angle serrated ; cleft 



