Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 81 



GOBIUS MALABABICUS, Day. 

 Proc. Zool. Lond. 1865, p. 27; Fishes Malab. p. Ill, pi. 7, fig. 2, 1865. 



Teeth in a villiform band, the outer row enlarged and strong ; no 

 canines. Depth of body nearly 5 times in total length excluding 

 caudal, length of head 3J times ; height of head about ^ its width, 

 which is contained 1^ times in its length. Snout slightly longer than 

 1 the eye, which is 4f times in length of head and 1^ times interorbital 

 width ; cleft of mouth oblique, lower jaw longer than upper, 

 maxillary extends to below middle of eye. Head naked, 2 rows 

 of pores or warts on each side of lower jaw and many rows on 

 cheeks. 



Dorsal vi, i 10 ; 2nd and 3rd spines of 1st dorsal highest, nearly \ 

 length of head, and about same height as posterior rays of 2nd 

 dorsal, which is lower anteriorly, the rays gradually increasing in 

 length. Pectorals i length of head, scarcely reaching anal. Ventrals 

 ? length of head, not reaching vent. Anal i 10 ; similar to soft 

 dorsal but lower. Caudal rounded, 5^ times in total length. Lat. 1. 

 50. Sixteen rows of scales between bases of 2nd dorsal and anal 

 fins, 10 rows anterior to 1st dorsal fin. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), brown, with dark irregular spots on 

 body and head ; dorsals with a light band running along lower third 

 of each fin, with a row of dark spots above and below it; pectorals 

 with a dark curved band on upper half and a dark crescentic band 

 with a white upper border on lower part of fin stretching across base 

 of first 7 or 8 rays. 



One specimen, 73 mm. in length, from Mr. Homer Robinson, 

 Natal. 



GEN. PBRIOPTHALMUS, Bl. Schn. 



PERIOPHTHALMUS KOELREUTEBI (Pall.). 

 Spic. Zool. viii. p. 8, pi. 2, fig. 1, 1769. 



Teeth strong, conical, pointed. Depth of body 5 to 6 times in 

 total length excluding caudal, length of head 4 to 4^ times ; width 

 of head f to f its length. Snout 1| to 1^ times as long as eye, 

 profile very abrupt, the skin forming fleshy flaps ; eyes very 

 prominent, situated on upper margin of head, diameter 4 times in 

 length of head and twice the interorbital width, outer eyelid well 

 developed ; cleft of mouth almost horizontal, upper lip slightly over- 



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