FISHES. — MCCULLOCH. 113 



bases of the dorsal and anal fins are slightly enlarged and 

 spinate. A few enlarged scales may be present below the 

 anterior dorsal spines. 



Jaws very protractile, the intermaxillary processes received 

 into a broad cavity extending backwards to above the middle of 

 the orbits. Superficial bones of the head a little roughened ; 

 the operculum with a strong, transverse, spinate ridge. Pre- 

 orbital very narrow. Microscopic teeth may be present on the 

 lower jaw ; upper jaw, vomer, palatines and tongue toothless. 

 A single dorsal fin with six to eight spines, and about thirty 

 rays. Anal with three spines and about twenty nine rays. 

 Ventral with one spine, and usually seven rays. Seven 

 brauchiostegals. 



Ctttosoma boops, Gilchrist. 



Gyttosoma boops, Gilchrist, Marine Invest. S. Afr., iii., 1904, 

 p. 6, pi. xxiii., and hoc. cit., iv., 1907, p. 150. 



Br. 7 ; D. vi-viii. 29-31 ; A. iii. 28-30 ; V.i. 7 ; P. 19-20 ; C. 13 ; 

 L. lat. c. 100. Height, at origin of dorsal fin, 1.57 in the length 

 to the hypural ; head 2.73 in the same. Snout 2.23 in the eye, 

 which is 1.65 in the head. Interorbital width 1.72 in the eye'. 

 Second dorsal spine 1.4, first anal spine 2.11, longest dorsal and 

 anal rays 1.5 in the eye. 



Supraorbital bones rough with serrated ridges ; suborbital, 

 preoperculum, preorbital, and mandibular also granular. Upper 

 part of operculum crossed by a strong raised ridge which is 

 denticulated, or it may form a cluster of spinules Interorbital 

 space bounded on either side and posteriorly by the supraorbital 

 bones ; the median portion is somewhat triangular. Nostrils 

 rather small, close together, the posterior placed directly in 

 front of the eye ; they are protected above by a granular bone. 

 Eye very large, about once and two-thirds as wide as the inter- 

 orbital space. Cheeks and interorbital space scaly, snout naked ; 

 lower part of operculum with rudimentary scales. Lips broad 

 and fleshy. Maxillary oblique when the mouth is closed, its 

 hinder margin truncate, the lower portion rounded. Very 

 minute teeth may be present in front of the lower jaw ; all the 

 other mouth-parts toothless. 



Scales of the sides very small, imbricate, and deciduous. On 

 the nape and ventral profile they are juxtaposed and tubercular, 

 the tubercles being either low and smooth or strongly spinate. 

 Several enlarged scales usually remain below the anterior dorsal 

 spines; according to Gilchrist, others also occur along the sides 

 and below the abdominal regions, though these are missino- in 

 all my specimens. The scales along the bases of the dorsal and 



