15. DENTEX. 369 



arc eleven or twelve scries of scales between the praeorbital and the 

 margin of the prasoperculum, which is also entirely scaly. The scales 

 on the upper surface of the head entirely cover the space between 

 the eyes ; those above the lateral line are considerably smaller than 

 those below. The dorsal spines moderate, not flexible ; the fourth 

 is the longest, and 2| in the length of the head ; the thii-d amd spine 

 rather longer than the second. Caudalis cmarginate. Coloration 

 imifonn (in a dried state). 

 Cape Seas. 



a. Stuffed, Cape Seas. From Sii- A. Smith's Collection. 



Description of the s^iecimen. — The greatest depth of the body is 

 below the origin of the dorsal, where it is contained 3| in the total 

 length. The nape of the neck is very convex and gibbous ; from 

 thence the upper profile of the head is straight and descends in an 

 oblique line. The head is elevated and strongly compressed, its 

 width between the eyes being 5| in its length, which is one-foui'th 

 of the total. The head is entirely covered vdth rather small scales, 

 except the snout ; on the upper side the scales extend to the level of 

 the anterior nostril. The posterior processes of the intermaxillaries 

 are rather longer than these bones. The praeorbital is very large, 

 elevated, quadrangidar, with the posterior margin straight, descend- 

 ing obliquely downwards. The eye is situated high up the sides, 

 but does not interfere with the upper profile ; it is rather small, 

 its diameter being Of in the length of the head. 



The dorsal spines are of moderate strength, on one side broader 

 and compressed ; the first is two-thii'ds of the second, the second 

 three-quarters of the tliird ; the thii'd rather shorter than the fourth, 

 which appears to be the longest, and 2| in the length of the head ; 

 the soft dorsal is considerably lower than the spinous. The caudal 

 fin is slightly forked. The posterior edge of the pectoral is slightly 

 emarginate ; the fin is pointed, its length being 4| in the total, and 

 reaches nearly to the anal fin : the ventral is much shorter ; but I 

 cannot state its exact length, part of the fin being broken off. 



The scales are rather small on the head, on the back, and on the 

 breast, much larger on the sides of the body and on the back of the 

 tail. They are minutely ciliated and higher than long. One of the 

 largest covers the eye. 



Each of the jaws is armed with a series of pointed conical teeth, 

 becoming smaller posteriorly ; there are four canines in front of the 

 up^wr jaw, six in front of the lower, the outer of which are strong 

 and curved. Behind these larger teeth is a narrow band of small 

 cardifonn teeth. 



The present coloiu' is a uniform greyish olive. 



inches, lines. 



Total length 20 6 



Height of the body 5 9 



Length of the head 5 



Diameter of the eye 9 



Distance between the eyes 11 



2 B 



