Descriptions of Fishes from the Coast of Natal. 91 



One specimen, 270 mm. in length, procured by the Cape Govern- 

 ment trawler P. Faure (s.) 2^ miles off Umhlanga River, on the 

 Natal coast ; depth 22 fms. 



FAMILY SCLEBODEKMI. 



GEN. OSTEACION, L. 



OSTBACION COENUTUS, L. 



Syst. Nat., 10th ed., p. 331, 1758. 



Carapace 4-ridged, forming a broad bridge across the back of the 

 tail ; a long conical spine above each orbit, directed forwards ; each 

 ventral ridge terminates posteriorly in a similar spine pointing 

 backwards ; each dorsal ridge with a slight prominence, which is not 

 developed into a spine, in the middle of its length ; median line 

 of the back slightly raised in the middle but not forming a spine; 

 interorbital space very concave ; profile of snout high and concave ; 

 10 teeth on each jaw, conical and rather weak ; eye ^ length of 

 snout and 2f times in distance from snout to gill-opening. Nine 

 scutes from gill-opening to tail, 5-6 transversely, 7 across ventral 

 surface. Depth of body f its greatest width. 



Dorsal 9 ; situated wholly in advance of anal ; highest anteriorly, 

 nearly 5 times in total length excluding caudal. Pectorals f length 

 of head. Anal 9 ; similar to dorsal but slightly lower. Caudal 

 truncated, f length of body. Surface of scutes granulated and 

 striated, but without prickles or spines. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), light brown on back, yellowish on 

 sides and belly. 



One specimen, 73 mm. in length, from Natal; Dr. Gilchrist. 



OSTRACION DIAPHANUS, Bl. Schn. 



Syst. Ichth., p. 501, 1801. 



Carapace 4-ridged, the bridge across back of tail formed by 4 trans- 

 verse series of scutes ; a pair of short conical spines above the orbit, 

 feebly divergent and pointing forwards ; a short curved spine in the 

 middle of the back, with a shorter spine on each dorsal ridge opposite 

 to it ; ventral ridge terminating posteriorly in a short strong spine 



