^5 



■eye, which is slightly greater than interorhital width and a 

 little more than 3^ times in length of head. Snout obtuse, 

 very slightly projecting beyond lower jaw ; angle of mouth is 

 beneath posterior edge of eye ; maxillary much prolonged, 

 ■extending to anus, lower edge finely serrated, and slightly 

 enlarged or bulging at angle of mouth. 10 gill rakers on 

 horizontal limb cf outer branchial arch, rather widely separated 

 from each other and the longest shorter than diameter of eye. 



Dorsal i 14, originates midway between anterior third of eye 

 and base of caudal ; 4th ray about ,'•, length of head, succeed- 

 ing rays rapidly decrease giving the fin a triangular shape 

 Pectorale nearly equal length of head. Ventrals nearly y; 

 length ol head. Anal 38, commences below or slightly behind 

 last ray of dorsal ; anterior rays about | height of longest rays 

 ■of dorsal, succeeding 12 or 13 decrease rapidly, remainder 

 subequal. Caudal forked, 1 1 tmies length of head. Abdomen 

 compressed ; the spiny scutes extending forward to gill-open- 

 ings, 14 before, 10 behind insertion of ventrals. Lat. 1. 42. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), darkish above, silvery on 

 sides ; black venules in scapular region. 



This description is that of the Natal specimen. 



The South African representatives of the Sub-order Mala- 

 ■copterygii may be completed by the addition of the families : 

 Mormyridae, Pantodontidae, Kneriidae, Chirocentridae, Salmon- 

 idae, Alepocephalidae, Stomiatidae, Gonorhynchidae. 



The Mormyridae are peculiar fresh water fishes found in 

 Africa, mostly in the Nile and Tropical Africa. The following 

 are found in the Zambesi and East Africa : Mormyrops delicio- 

 sus, Leach ; Petrocephalus stuhlmanni, Blgr., Marcusenius 

 ■discorhynchus, Peters, Gnathoncmus macrolepidotus, Peters, 

 M or my r us anchietce, Guim. 



The small family of the Pantodontidae is represented by a 

 single species, Pantodon huchholzi, Peters, a fresh water flying 

 tish, and another small family, the Kneriidae, by Kneria 

 •angolcnsis, Stdr., also a fresh water fish. 



The family of the Chirocentridce is represented by its single 

 ■species, Chiroccntrus dorab, Forsk. found in the Indian Ocean 

 and Seas of China and Japan. 



The SalmonidcC are represented in South Africa only by 

 introduced species, Salmo jario, the brown trout, its variety 

 .5. levenensis, the Loch Le^•en Trout, and Sahiio irideus, the 

 Rainbow Trout. 



The Alepocephalidae are represented by a species of Alepo- 

 ■cephalus, and Xenodcrmichthys socialis. These are deep sea 

 fish allied to the Clupeida; and Salmonidie. 



[C.P. 5-'i3-] 



