I lO 



SOLEA (PEGUSA) CAPENSIS, n.sp. 



(Plate IK.) 



D. 79-87, A. 63-68, E. I. 113-113. 



Eyes on the right side, upper in advance of lower by about 

 I its breadth. Snout hooked, mouth unsymmetrical, extend- 

 ing- nearly to below centre of lower eye. Teeth minute, on the 

 blind side only. Gill openings moderately wide, with fringe 

 of papillae along edge. Head, snout, lips and extremity of 

 nostril of blind side covered with papillae. Nostril of blind 

 side dilated and surrounded by space destitute of papillae. 

 Depth of the body is contained nearly 2^ in total lengthi 

 (without caudal), length of head 5^. Longitudinal diameter 

 of the eye is contained 5 times in length of head and is about 

 twice the breadth of the interorbital space. The dorsal fin 

 commences well forward on the snout at a point on a level 

 with the centre of the upper eye. The number of rays vary in 

 the different specimens from 79 to 87, The longest of these 

 occurs about the centre and is contained 2^ in the length of 

 the head. The posterior extremity of the dorsal is close to 

 the caudal, but distinct from it. The anal fin commences 

 immediately behind the ventral, and runs backwards, ending 

 close to the caudal as in the case of the dorsal. It contains 

 from 63 to 68 rays. The right pectoral is contained 2^ times 

 in the length of the head, being slightly longer than the left. 

 It is covered with scales to -^ of its length. The caudal is 

 obtusely rounded and is contained 9^ times in the length of 

 the body. The breadth of the tail, between the extremity of 

 the vertical fins, is about ^ the length of the head. 



Scales strongly ctenoid on the right side, cycloid on the 

 left. Lateral line straight with 113-115 scales. 



Colour in fresh state, brown, with shades of green, and. 

 dark brown and greenish blotches of irregular size and shape,, 

 sometimes assuming the form of rings with a brown spot in 

 the centre. These are smaller, more closely set and irregular 

 in shape on the caudal dorsal and anal fins and on the head. 

 The pectoral fin is coloured in a similar manner to about ^ its 

 length, the distal portion being dark brown and the tips of 

 the rays yellowish white. The iris is of a sandy yellow 

 colour, with black dots, except in its inner margin, where it is 

 of a golden yellow colour. The blind side is colourless,, 

 except the papillae, which are ochreous yellow, occasional 

 patches of the same colour appearing on the left side of the 

 unpaired fins, especially the caudal. On these fins also dark 

 streaks appear between the rays. The left pectoral is of a 

 pinkish colour at the base and light brown, sometimes black,, 

 on the distal half. In one specimen however this fin was- 

 entirely devoid of colour. 



