6o 



sections forming nearly a straight line. The longest ray equals, 

 the breadth of the interorbital space. Post orbital portion of 

 head longer than or about equal to remainder of head. 



Scales regularly arranged, finely striated ciliated, 43-45 in a 

 longitudinal, 14 in a transverse series ; 12 scuta behind and 15 

 before ventral. 



Dorsal III 14, a little nearer end of base of caudal than end 

 of snout, the longest ray equal to tlie length of its base and 

 double the length of the last ray. Anal III 17-19. Pectoral 

 f-f length of head. Origin of ventral a little in advance of 

 middle of dorsal. Caudal deeply forked. 



Colour : Silvery, a dark spot on shoulder. Edge of dorsal 

 blackish. 



This description is drawn up from that of the authors 

 referred to, and from a large specimen, forwarded by the 

 Durban Museum, 240 mm. in length excluding caudal (which 

 is 76 mm.) the body is deeper, being 2'i in total, the head is 

 longer (3^ in body), eyes smaller 4f in head, the post orbital 

 position of the head, which, in the other specimen is equal 

 or about equal to the rest of it, is here decidedly longer, being 

 I '3 times the rest of the head. 



This East Coast Herring is a handsome and substantial- 

 looking fish and may occasionally be seen as smoked fish in the 

 inland cities. It is said, however, to be very bony. It is 

 recorded as yet only from Natal waters. 



ILISHA. (.ray. 



Platygaster, Swainson, Nat. Hist, ii, p. 294 (1839) name pre- 

 occupied. 



Ilisha, Gray in Richards. Ichth. China, p. 306 (1846) ; Bleek. 

 Atl. Ichth. vi. p. 116 (1872). 



Pellona, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. xx, p. 300 (1847) : (iunth. 

 Cat. Fish, vn. p. 454 (1868). 



Ilisha natalensis (Cilch. & Tliomp.j. 



Pellona natalensis, Gilch. & Thomp. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. \'oL 

 vi. Pt. ii, p. 202. 



Teeth on jaws, palate, vomer, and tongue. Depth of body 

 2f times in total length excluding caudal, length of head 2'}; 

 times. Snout nearly i diameter of eye, which is if times 

 interorbital width and 2f times in length of head. Ridges on 

 occiput converge very slightly posteriorly and meet anteriorly ; 

 mouth opens on superior side, lower jaw projects beyond 

 upper ; maxillary reaches to vertical of posterior nostril ; eyes 

 large and situated high up, occup^'ing upper half of head. 

 Dorsal profile almost straight, abdominal profile con\-ex. 



