68 Annals of thr HmitJi African 



length of head 3 times. Snout 1^ times diameter of eye, which is 6 

 times in length of head ; interorhital width 6^ times in length of 

 head; nostrils close together; lower jaw projecting; maxillary 

 reaches to a little beyond posterior border of eye, width of its distal 

 extremity ~ diameter of eye ; vertical limb of preoperculum finely 

 serrated, obtusely angulate, a little produced at angle which is armed 

 with enlarged serrae ; middle opercular spine nearer to lower than 

 to upper, lower further back than upper, opercular flap obtusely 

 pointed ; head, including maxillary, nearly entirely covered with 

 small cycloid scales ; gillrakers (removed in specimen). 



Dorsal xi 17, originates above pectoral ; 4th spine longest, nearly 

 ^ length of head, If as long as last spine and liy as long as longest 

 soft rays. Pectorals f length of head. Ventrals 1 length of head, 

 reaching to anus. Anal iii 8 ; 2nd spine slightly shorter but much 

 stronger than 3rd, which is -f longest dorsal spine ; soft rays f length 

 of head. Caudal subtruncate, nearly -| length of head. Scales 110, 

 ciliated. Lat. 1. 58 (circa), ?>{. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), light brown ; lai'ge dark spots 

 in more or less longitudinal rows on body and on head, belly 

 and isthmus without spots ; pectoral fins with large dark 

 spots in irregular lines, outer half whitish ; dorsal and anal fins 

 blackish. 



One specimen, 358 mm. in length, from Mr. Homer Robinson, 

 Natal. 



GEN. DENTEX, Cuv. 

 DENTEX BIVULATUS, Riipp. 

 Neue Wirbelt. Fisch. p. 116, pi. 29, f. 2, 1837. 



Teeth, canines strong, a series of conical teeth on the sides. Depth 

 of body 2 1 times in total length excluding caudal, length of head 3^,, 

 times. Snout 1-J- times diameter of eye, which is 3 times in length 

 of head and f interorbital width ; maxillary reaches to anterior 

 nostril ; preorbital naked, its depth about equal to diameter of eye ; 

 4 series of scales between preorbital and angle of preoperculum ; 

 hind limb of preopercle feebly emarginate, entire, with a few ser- 

 rations at its rounded angle ; opercle with a blunt inconspicuous 

 spine. 



Dorsal x 10 ; spines increasing in length to 3rd, which is ^ length 

 of head, the remainder decreasing in length ; middle soft rays about 

 1^- times as long as longest spine. Pectorals a little more than A 



