50 Annals of the South African Museum. 



Dorsal 9 ; situated in last 3rd of distance from middle of eye to 

 base of caudal, its height twice the length of its base and f length 

 of the head. Pectorals f length of head. Anal 9 ; commencing 

 behind posterior margin of dorsal and of similar shape, but slightly 

 higher. Caudal nearly f length of head, truncate. Minute spines 

 on body as far as snout, becoming larger on abdomen. No fold on 

 lower part of tail or body. 



Colour (when fresh), dark brown above ; belly yellowish, striped 

 longitudinally with brown lines ; fins yellowish ; back dark with 

 lighter patches. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), dark brownish black on upper 

 part of body including cheeks and snout ; light drab colour below, 

 with many dark curving lines running from throat and round base 

 of pectorals along the sides and abdomen to base of tail. 



One specimen, 83 mm. in length, taken off breakwater, Durban ; 

 from Mr. Romer Robinson, Natal, who kindly supplies a note of the 

 colouring when fresh. 



TETRODON HISPIDUS, Lacep. 



Teeth equal on both jaws. Length of head equals the distance 

 from base of dorsal fin and is 2f times in total length excluding 

 caudal. Eyes of moderate size situated slightly nearer to gill- 

 opening than to point of snout and 2f times in length of snout, 

 which is slightly more than ^ length of head ; interorbital width 

 slightly less than length of snout, flat, the osseous part twice the 

 diameter of the eye in width ; orbits prominent ; profile of snout 

 slightly concave ; two prominent nasal papillae on a single base 

 on each side. 



Dorsal 10 ; situated in last 3rd of distance from anterior margin 

 of eye to base of caudal fin, height 2-| times the length of the base 

 and nearly i length of head. Pectorals f length of head. Anal 10; 

 commencing behind posterior margin of base of dorsal, which it 

 resembles, but is not so high. Caudal nearly f length of head, 

 truncate, with a slightly rounded posterior margin and equal to 

 its distance from anterior margin of dorsal. Spines on body extend 

 superiorly from interorbital space to near base of caudal, more or 

 less widely separated and in patches and hidden in the skin ; 

 inferiorly they extend from throat and cheeks below line of pec- 

 torals to vent, being prominent and denser on abdomen, and with 

 a patch on the side below the dorsal fin. 



Colour (when fresh), yellowish on back, shading to dirty white 

 on belly. Many small white spots on back, thicker near tail ; pec- 



