I have hesitated to describe this form as a new species asit 

 agrees in many particulars with the Northern form which has 

 been found to vary considerably. In general proportion of the 

 body and fin formula it cannot be separated from L. lima, but 

 the antenor elevation of the anal fin, the entire absence of spots 

 on the body and the presence of marked lines of mucous pores 

 over the head, which could hardly escape the notice of other 

 observers, seems to indicate that it belongs to a different species. 

 The pectorals axe shorter and more rounded, but this may be 

 an age characteristic. 



The anterior elevation of the anal fin is of interest from a 

 systematic pomt of view, as connecting the isolated family of 

 the Lainpridae with the Scombridae. 



The specimen described was found on the 2nd August, 1902, 

 cast up on the beach at jMuizenberg, in False Bay, and was 

 quite unknown to the fishermen at that place or at the adjacent 

 Kalk Ba}'. Unfortunatel}-, when procured, it was somewhat 

 damaged, the right jaw being torn off, the left pectoral and 

 both eyes gone. It was, however, in a perfectly fresh state. 

 Wlien placed m formalin tlie brilliant red of the fins rapidly 

 faded. 



There is a stuffed specimen in the South African Museum, 

 found on the shores of Table Bay in the year 1887. There are 

 well marked large white spots painted on this fish, but that this 

 is an error of the taxidermist copied from a figure is very pro- 

 bable, as a note by Mr. Trimen in the records of the Museum 

 undoubtedly refers to this fish, viz. : — " A Lampris (red and 

 without spots) found stranded in Table Ba}, 4th April, 1887. 

 Length 3 ft. 7 in."^ The elevated anterior rays of the anal are 

 even more marked than in the specimen described. The pec- 

 torals are not, however, so rounded. 



The following measurements are those of the fresh specimen 

 from Muizenberg : — 



Length of bicdy, excluding tail 805 mm. 



„ to end of middle caudal ra}'... 880 „ 



Depth „ ■ ... 380 „ 



.Greatest thickness 143 „ 



. Longest ray of dorsal 185 „ 



ventral 170 „ 



„ „ pectoral along curve 200 „ 



„ .. ,> from tip to base 174 „ 



Lengtli of head 245 „ 



Diameter of eye 46 „ ? 



Jnterocular space 85 „ 



