Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 89 



T 7 <y length of head. Ventrals situated behind posterior edge of 

 preoperculum, consisting of a single ray about f the length of the 

 head. Anal 88 ; commences immediately behind vent, which is 

 situated well in front of the middle of the body. The dorsal and 

 anal fins are confluent ; there are thin scales on anterior part of 

 dorsal, reaching to about i its height. Lateral line slightly curved, 

 runs parallel with upper margin of body, well marked anteriorly but 

 only to be traced with difficulty to the caudal ; about 12 series 

 of scales between lateral line and base of middle of dorsal fin. 



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

 caudal and posterior extremity of dorsal and anal fins black- 

 edged. 



One specimen, 216 mm. in length, procured by the Cape Govern- 

 ment trawler P. Faure (s.) in 440 fms. off the Natal coast ; Cape 

 Natal, N. by E. 24 miles. 



GEN. NEOBYTHITES, Goode & Bean. 



NEOBYTHITES MACROPS, Glinth. 

 Challenger Eeporfcs, xxii. p. 102, pi. 20, fig. A, 1887. 



Teeth in villiform bands ; vomerine teeth in a chevron-shaped 

 band, palatine teeth in a long band which tapers posteriorly and in 

 the middle is slightly wider than the maxillary band. Depth of body 

 5f times in total length, length of head 5 times. Eye rather large, 

 its longitudinal diameter 4i times in length of head and equal 

 to length of snout, its vertical diameter 5| times in length of head 

 and slightly less than the interorbital width ; interocular space flat 

 and scaly ; head oblong, as deep as broad, the obtusely rounded 

 snout overlapping the lower jaw ; maxillary reaches to vertical 

 of posterior margin of eye ; preoperculum armed with 2 short 

 spines, one at the angle and the other a little above it, both pointing 

 backwards ; operculum with a strong finely pointed spine ; mouth 

 large, inferior, horizontal ; upper part of head covered with small 

 scales nearly to extremity of snout, small scales on skin between 

 rami of mandibles. Gillrakers, 15 on lower part of anterior arch, 

 those at the angle very long and the remainder decreasing in length 

 until the last 6 exist as mere knobs. 



Dorsal 100 (circa), commences behind root of pectorals; rays 

 about equal in length throughout, ^ length of head. Pectorals 

 T 7 S length of head. Ventrals bifid, the inner filament being the 



