368 I'RISTIPOMATID.E. 



interior ridge of the bone. The opercuhim is quadrangular, with a 

 slight exterior ridge; the interoperculura rather broader than the 

 suboperculum. The anterior portion of the frontal bones is slightly 

 convex, porous. The occipital crest is strong, and extends on the 

 frontal bones to dbove the centre of the orbit ; the lateral crests also 

 are very developed. The basal portion of the brain-capsule is 

 slightly compressed, and the basisphenoid has a quadrangular open- 

 ing before the occipital joint. The humeral arch and the pubic 

 bones do not show any peculiarity. 



There are ten abdominal and fourteen caudal venebrce, the length 

 of the former portion of the vertebral column . being to that of the 

 latter as 1 : 1-4. Some of the anterior ribs arc broad in their basal 

 portion. The neural and-'hajmal spines slender, the interneurals di- 

 lated ; the first interhaemal is rather feeble, but it has a verj' distinct 

 anterior ridge. 



2, Dentex argyrozona. 



aw. ^ Val. vi. p. 235 ; Smith, III S. Afr. Fishes, pi. 19. 

 D. _iL. A. f. L. lat. 60. L. transv. ^. Cjbc. pylor. 4. 

 Vert. 9/13. 



The height of the body equals the length of the head, and is 3| in 

 the total. The snout exceeds in length the diameter of the eye. 

 Canines very strong. The praeorbital scaleless, nearly as high as the 

 eye ; there are eight or nine rows of scales between the pracorbital 

 and the margin of the profsoperculum, which is also covered with 

 scales for its greater part ; the scales above the lateral line scarcely 

 smaller than those of the sides. The spines of the fins slender, 

 rather flexible ; the fourth of the dorsal longest, and not (juite one- 

 third of the length of the head ; the second and third anal spines 

 nearly equal. Caudalis emarginate. Red, with silvery longitudinal 

 bands. 



Cape Seas. 



a. Half-grown : not good state. Cape of Good Hope. From the 



Haslar Collection. 



b. 23" long : stuffed. Cape Seas. From Sir A. Smith's Collection. 



c. 29" long : stuffed. Cape Seas. Purchased of Mr. Gould. 



d. Adult : stuffed. Cape Seas. From Sir A. Smith's Collection. 



e. Adult : skin. False Bay. 

 /. 29" long : stuffed. 



3. Dentex prav^rbitalis. (Plate XXIII. fig. A.) 



D. {|. A. g L. lat. 60. L. transv. 10/15. 



The height of the body is 3| in the total length, the length of the 

 head four times ; the diameter of the eye is 2| in the length of the 

 snout, and 6f in that of the head. Canines very strong. The pi-ae- 

 orbital regularly quadi'angiilar, scaleless, much higher than wide ; 

 the width of the orbit is 2] in the height of the pracorbital. There 



