322 FISHES AND FISHING. 



aurora-red tinged with orange, and shaded with ultra- 

 marine blue. (A. Smith.) Length, about three feet. 

 Rarely found in Table Bay ; but considered one of 

 the very finest fishes in the colony. It is chiefly 

 confined to the east of the Cape, where it is caught 

 with the hook, or net, in great abundance. It is 

 also cured for foreign markets. 



19. Dentex Abgtkozona. Cuv. and Val. — {Silver- 

 fish.) — Body, oblong ; eyes, large ; mouth of a mode- 

 rate size ; teeth, like those of the preceding species. 

 Head, back, and sides, above the lateral line, aurora- 

 red on a silvery base ; hue, below that line, faint 

 flesh-red, striped with five or six narrow, longitudi- 

 nal pale, rose-red bands. Belly, white, silvery; fins, 

 purplish-red ; iris, scarlet. Length, from sixteen to 

 twenty inches. This very voracious fish feeds prin- 

 cipally on small fish and crabs. It is common on the 

 Cape market throughout the year, and forms also an 

 article of export. 



20. Canthaeus Blochii. Cuv, and Val. (?) — 

 ( Windtoy.) — Body, broad, oval; head tapering towards 

 the muzzle, and forming a curvature above the eyes. 

 Jaws, free, somewhat protractile. Anterior teeth, 

 small, but sharp ; inner rows, velvetty. Spines of 

 dorsal fin, strong, spiny ; pectoral fins, round at base 

 and pointed at the apex ; scales, middle-sized. Tail, 

 unequal, upper side longest. Length, twelve inches ; 



