15. DENTEX, 369 



are eleven or twelve series of scales between the praeorbital and the 

 margin of the praeoperculum, 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 third anal spine 

 rather longer than the second. Caudalis emarginate. Coloration 

 uniform (in a dried state). 

 Cape Seas, 



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



Description of the specimen. — The greatest depth of the body is 

 below the origin of the dorsal, where it is contained Sg 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-fourth 

 of the total. The head is entirdy covered with 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, quadrangular, 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 6f in the length of the head. 



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

 and compressed ; the first is two-thirds of the second, the second 

 three-quarters of the third ; the third 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 slightl-^ 

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

 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 scahs 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 th6 

 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 

 upper 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 

 cardiform teeth. 



The present colour 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 



2b 



