86 Annals of the South, African Museum. 



Dorsal vii 14 ; 1st spine minute, its distance from caudal fin | its 

 distance from occiput ; 2nd spine very strong, compressed, striated, 

 grooved along posterior margin and movable, its length equals \ 

 distance of opercle from caudal, and the spine points obliquely 

 upwards and backwards ; the remaining spines are short and their 

 connecting membrane strong. Soft dorsal higher than long, its 

 distance from caudal equals f the length of its base ; anterior rays 

 highest. Pectorals with a short oblique base, inserted about the 

 middle of the depth of the body and extending almost to end of 

 ventrals. Ventral fins small, close together and received into a 

 common groove on the belly. Anal 17 ; commences immediately 

 behind vent in the vertical from the posterior spines of dorsal and 

 extends as far back as posterior margin of soft dorsal, but is much 

 lower. Caudal truncate, composed of 9 undivided rays, the others 

 on the upper and lower side of its base being rudimentary. Body 

 covered with small rough scales, each of which ends in a weak 

 spine posteriorly ; 2 series of bony plates on the sides of the back, 

 each of 4 plates which have a centre with vertical and horizontal 

 stripes radiating from it ; the lower series commences in the 

 scapulary region, the upper runs in a parallel line above it. Margin 

 of thorax cuirassed with 3 similar plates, the belly with a single 

 series ; edge of thorax and belly sharp. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), yellowish brown, slightly darker 

 above than below. 



One specimen, 197 mm. in length, from Durban Museum. 



FAMILY LABRIDAE. 



GEN. PLATYGLOSSUS, Klein. 



PLATYGLOSSUS ROBINSONI, n. sp. 



Teeth, a posterior canine, 4 strong canines at symphysis of each 

 jaw, slightly curved and directed a little outwards. Depth of body 

 3f times in total length excluding caudal, length of head 4 times. 

 Snout 2|- times in length of head and lyV times diameter of eye, 

 which is nearly 5 times in length of head and about li times in 

 interorbital width ; jaws about equal ; maxillary reaches to vertical 

 of anterior nostril. 



Dorsal ix 13 ; spines weak, slightly increasing in length to the 

 last which is a little more than f length of head ; soft rays gradually 



