Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 45 



fin concave and its base f length of longest ray. Pectorals f to 

 T 7 ^ length of head, situated slightly above centre of body. Ventrals 

 f- length of head, inserted midway between origin of pectorals and of 

 spinous dorsal. Anal iii 9 ; commences slightly in advance of soft 

 dorsal, 3rd spine moderately strong and 1 height of soft rays, which 

 are slightly longer than the rays of the soft dorsal ; base of fin 

 ^ length of longest ray, upper margin of fin strongly emarginate, the 

 posterior rays being produced. Caudal forked. Lat. 1. 42-45, lat. 

 tr. 14 ; the 12th, 16th, and 30th scales correspond respectively to 

 extremity of pectorals and origin of dorsal fins ; no elongated 

 axillary scale ; small scales on all fins except spinous dorsal ; a dark 

 stripe along the middle of each series of scales on the body. 



Colour (of preserved specimens), uniform greyish. 



Two specimens, 236 mm. and 320 mm. in length respectively ; the 

 smaller from Mr. Komer Eobinson, Natal, the larger from Durban 

 market. 



FAMILY LABKID^. 



GEN. JULIS, Cuv. and Val. 



JULIS HEBBAICA, Lacep. 



Depth of body 3^ to 3^ times in total length excluding caudal, 

 length of head 31 to 3^ times. Snout about twice diameter of eye, 

 which is 1^ to 2 times in interorbital width and 5y to 6^ times in 

 length of head ; jaws about equal, the anterior teeth of upper jaw 

 projecting outwards and overlapping lower ; maxillary reaches to 

 vertical of anterior nostril, cleft of mouth lateral ; infraorbital ring 

 striated. Upper profile of snout very obtuse in the larger specimen. 



Dorsal viii 13 ; spines weak and lower than soft rays, which are 

 of uniform height and about % length of head. Pectorals f length of 

 head. Ventrals ^ length of head. Anal ii 11 ; similar to soft dorsal 

 but slightly higher anteriorly. Caudal lunate, the lobes produced 

 and equal to or 1^ times length of head. Scales comparatively large, 

 cycloid. Lat. 1. 27, lat. tr. |. 



Colour (when fresh), blue, with irregular violet bands on head and 

 body in front of pectorals, a light vertical band from back to belly 

 behind pectorals ; head and anterior half of body darker than 

 posterior half ; caudal dark base and lobes, light in centre. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), purplish brown, with dark lines 

 from eye to opercular margin and to base of pectorals, a dark 



5 



