Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 47 



COSSYPHUS NIGROMACULATUS, Gilchr. and Thomp. 



Chceropsodes pictus, Gilchr. and Thomp. 



Teeth, 4 strong canines in front on either jaw, the inner pair on 

 lower jaw being small ; lateral teeth in a continuous cutting edge; 

 the larger specimen has 2 canines at the angle of upper jaw on left 

 side, the smaller specimen has only 1. Depth of body 2f to 2f times 

 in total length excluding caudal, length of head 3 times. Snout 

 3 times diameter of eye, which is ^ to interorbital width and 5 T V to 

 7 times in length of head ; interorbital space convex ; preorbital 

 emarginate, its least depth about twice diameter of eye ; preoper- 

 culum minutely serrated ; upper lip thick, cleft of mouth oblique, 

 maxillary reaches vertical of anterior margin of eye and nearly 

 hidden by preorbital. 



Dorsal xi-xii 10-12 ; commences above base of pectorals ; spines 

 short, strong and embedded in thick skin, which is produced as a 

 short lobe covering end of each spine ; interspinous membranes 

 deeply cleft ; 1st spine shortest, the remainder about subequal and 

 i to fV length of head ; soft portion of fin anteriorly about as high 

 as adjacent spines rising posteriorly to about ^ length of head. 

 Pectorals T 7 (7 to f length of head, superior rays longest. Ventrals with 

 first 2 rays produced, about length of head and reaching to origin of 

 anal. Anal iii 12 ; resembles soft dorsal but not so high. Caudal 

 emarginate, outer rays produced and nearly as long as head. Scales 

 on body large, smaller ones covering throat, opercles, cheeks, and 

 top of head as far as eyes. Lat. 1. 33, lat. tr. ^^. 



Colour (of larger specimen when fresh), very brilliant, pinkish red 

 with a tinge of lemon-yellow markings as follows : Dots and short 

 irregular lines on head and anterior dorsal part of body, on inter- 

 spinous membranes of all fins except spinous dorsal where they are 

 black and on margin of caudal fin ; a black blotch at distal end of 

 pectorals and one on the body between the spinous and soft portions 

 of the dorsal fin. 



Colour (of preserved specimens), yellow or grey with a reddish 

 tinge in places ; a large black patch above lateral line extending on 

 to base of dorsal fin, a black patch on distal extremity of pectorals ; 

 spinous dorsal black. 



Two specimens, one 425 mm. in length, from Durban market ; 

 the other, 240 mm. in length, procured from line fishermen at 

 Durban, caught outside the harbour. 



On reconsideration of specimens we have found that these two 

 fish, which we have formerly described as different, apparently may 



