Descriptions of fV.sAv.s from the Coast of Nntnl. ('>!) 



length of head, reaching to anal. Ventrals f length of head, reach- 

 ing a little beyond vent. Anal iii 10 ; 2nd spine stronger but shorter 

 than 3rd, which is length of longest dorsal spine. Caudal forked. 

 Lat. 1. 47, lat, tr. r 7 r . 



Colour (of preserved specimen), uniform grey, top of head 

 darker and brown ; a narrow curved brown band across base 

 of pectorals and a faint one across nape ; a dark brown spot on 

 upper margin of each eye ; one or two curving dark lines on 

 preorbital. 



One specimen, 294 mm. in length, from Mr. Romer Robinson, 

 Natal. 



FAMILY SPARIDAE. 



GEN. LETHRINUS, Cuv. 



LETHRINUS CHRYSOSTOMUS, Rich. 

 Voy. Erebus and Terror, Fishes, p. 118, pi. 60, figs. 6 and 7, 1846. 



Teeth, 4 moderately strong canines on each jaw ; the lateral teeth 

 on each jaw pointed in front but more or less rounded posteriorly, 

 especially those of the upper jaw, the last one being very molar- 

 like. Depth of body 2f times in total length excluding caudal, 

 length of head 2i times. Snout 2f times diameter of eye, which 

 is 4f- times in length of head and H times in interorbital width ; 

 cleft of mouth lateral, maxillary scarcely extends to vertical of 

 anterior nostril and is concealed by preorbital, the height of the 

 latter b^ing twice the diameter of the eye; pi'eoperculum entire, 

 the angle rounded ; operculum with 2 blunt inconspicuous spines; 

 a slight protuberance before upper anterior angle of orbits. 



Dorsal x 9 ; spines strong, increasing in length to 3rd or 4th, 

 which is ^ length of head ; longest soft rays nearly f length of head. 

 Pectorals as long as head, anterior rays longest and reaching beyond 

 origin of anal. Ventrals f length of head, reaching to anal. Anal 

 iii 8 ; 3rd spine longest, about -^ longest spine of dorsal. Caudal 

 emarginate, scaly on base. Lat. 1. 47, lat. tr. /y . 



Colour (of preserved specimen), brown, silvery beneath ; scales, 

 especially on upper part of the body, with a black centre forming 

 longitudinal streaks on the body; fins whitish. 



One specimen, 336 mm. in length, from Mr. Romer Robinson, 

 Natal. 



