12 



Castelnau (j\Iem. Poiss. Afr. Austr. 1861, p. 74) had already 

 recorded the presence of a sea-horse at the Cape, but had 

 been unable to identify the species. 



ENGRAULIS HOLODON. 



Depth of bod}^ 5 to 5^ times in total length, length of head 

 4 times. Snout pointed, strongly projecting, shorter than the 

 eye, the diameter of which is three times in the length of the 

 head. Teeth present in both jaws, minute ; maxillary tapering 

 behind, extending to the gill-opening. Gill-rakers long, 12 on 

 lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal with 14 rays, originating 

 a little nearer root of caudal than end of snout. Anal with 19 

 or 20 rays, originating below middle of dorsal. Pectoral f 

 length of head. Spiny scales of abdomen 9 in number, ex- 

 tending betw^een pectorals and ventrals. Caudal deeply 

 forked. Caudal peduncle twice as long as deep. 40 to 42 

 scales in a longitudinal series, 9 in a transverse series. A 

 silvery lateral stripe. 



Total length 50 millimetres. 



Young specimens were obtained by seine net in the tidal 

 Zwartkops River, Algoa Bay. 



The " Ansjovis " of the Cape fishermen has hitherto been 

 referred to E. eitchrastcholus, without having been compared 

 with European specimens. These, as well as the Australian 

 and Neo-zelandian E. antipodum^ differ in the narrower and 

 shorter maxillary, the toothless mandible, and the dorsal fin 

 entirely in advance of the anal. 



[Published, 2nd February, 1900.] 



