Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 71 



ing abruptly to end of snout ; a ridge on nape from above centre 

 of orbits to origin of dorsal ; preorbital depth f diameter of eye ; 

 preoperculum finely serrated on its vertical limb and on the rounded 

 angle ; cleft of mouth slightly oblique, maxillary reaches to vertical 

 of anterior margin of eye. 



Dorsal vi 16 ; commences above base of pectorals, spinous por- 

 tion lower than soft ; posterior soft rays longest, length of head, 

 the 14th ray prolonged and nearly 1J- times as high as adjacent rays. 

 Pectorals falcate, reaching to anal, the 6th ray longest and as long 

 as head. Ventrals i as long as head, not reaching to vent. Anal ii 

 12 ; rays increasing in length to the penultimate, which is about f 

 length of head. Caudal emarginate, a little more than f length of 

 head. Scales ciliated, extending over opercles and cheeks, and on 

 top of head as far as the centre of the orbits. Lat. 1. 102, lat. tr. ./,,. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), reddish ; 15 dark brown bands 

 across upper part of body ; a black opercular spot. 



One specimen, 198 mm. in length, procured by the Cape Govern- 

 ment trawler P. Faure (s.) off the Natal coast, in 50 frns. ; Tugela 

 Eiver mouth, N. 19^ miles. 



FAMILY BATBACHIDAE. 



GEN. BATBACHUS, Klein. 



BATRACHUS APIATUS, C. & V. 

 Hist. Nat. Poiss. xii. p. 477, 1837. 



Teeth in 3 rows on each jaw anteriorly, a single series laterally, 

 the teeth on mandibles largest and directed a little inwards ; an 

 irregular double row on vomer, a single series on palatines. Depth 

 of body 5J times in total length excluding caudal, length of head 

 3 T 3 ,j times. Longitudinal diameter of eye 4^ times in length of 

 head, and equal to snout, which is broad, depressed, and surmounted 

 by short tentacles which are most distinct along the mandibles ; 

 vertical diameter of eye 5f times in length of head and equal to the 

 width of the bony ridge between the orbits, maxillary reaches to 

 vertical of posterior margin of eye, lower jaw projects ; no tentacles 

 above the orbits ; 4 backwardly directed spines on gill-covers, 

 situated 2 on the operculum and 2 on sub-operculum ; anterior 

 nostril with a tubular flap ending in a bunch of filaments; head with 

 loose folds of skin on nape. 



