80 Annals of the South African Museum. 



between point of snout and base of caudal ; highest anteriorly, 

 about | length of disk. Pectorals f length of disk, situated behind 

 head in line with 19th lamina of disk. Ventrals f length of disk, 

 equal to the distance between point of snout and posterior margin 

 of eye. Anal 37; similar to soft dorsal but higher anteriorly, 

 Caudal with emarginations, nearly |- length of disk. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), uniform reddish brown ; external 

 margin of caudal and anterior tips of dorsal and anal edged with 

 white ; pectorals deep brown ; centre of caudal nearly black. 



One specimen, 348 mm. in length, from Durban Museum. 



FAMILY GOBIID^E. 



GEN. GOBIUS, L. 



GOBIUS OBSCURUS, Peters. 

 Wiegm. Arch. 1855, p. 250. 



Teeth small, villiform, outer row slightly enlarged ; no canines. 

 Depth of body 5 times in total length excluding caudal, length of 

 head 3i to 3f times; height of head % its breadth, which is con- 

 tained 1-jL to 1| times in its length. Snout slightly convex, 11 to 

 1'2- times diameter of eye, which occupies the 2nd quarter of length 

 of head, is 1 to If times interorbital width and 3 times in length of 

 head ; cleft of mouth slightly oblique, maxillary reaches to below 

 anterior margin of eye and does not ascend to the level of the eye ; 

 lips thick, the upper slightly overhanging lower. 



Dorsal vi, i 8-9; 2nd spine of 1st dorsal longest, nearly ^ to 

 ^ length of head ; soft rays longest posteriorly, 1^ to 1^ height of 

 longest spine. Pectorals 4 length of head, reaching to anus, the 

 upper rays silk-like. Ventrals about same length as pectorals. 

 Anal i 8 ; similar to soft dorsal but not quite as high. Caudal 

 wedge-shaped, i length of head Scales feebly ctenoid, extending 

 on to crown of head ; 16 anterior to 1st dorsal, 14 between origin of 

 2nd dorsal and anal. Lat. 1. 38. 



Colour (of preserved specimens), pale brown, with dark spots on 

 body ; dorsal, anal and caudal with small dark spots ; a dark spot at 

 upper angle of axil of pectorals. 



Two specimens, 44 mm. 80 mm. in length respectively, from Mr, 

 Eomer Robinson, Natal. 



