117 



velours ', and are irregularly crowded on the maxillaries. Those 

 towards the angle of the mouth are somewhat longer. The lines of 

 ossific granulations, which, passing forwards from the superciliary 

 ridges, unite in an angle on the forehead, are much more distinct : 

 the appearance of those clustered on the posterior suborbitary and 

 temporal bones is much the same in both species. The upper divi- 

 sion of the border of the operculum approaches nearer to a semi- 

 circular form. 



" The attachment of the pectorals and ventrals, as well as their 

 general form and number of rays, is also alike. The dorsal presents 

 some valuations ; the height of the first spine being only two fifths 

 of that of the second, the latter and the fourth equal, and the third 

 somewhat the longest of all. The emargination in the membrane be- 

 tween the second, third, fourth, and fifth spinous rays is obviously 

 deeper. The number of soft rays exceeds that of Agr. torvus by 

 one, being fourteen in number. The anal has also one additional 

 ray. 



D.21 -i- 14; A. 1 -f 10; P. 1 4- 8; &c. 



The caudal has nothing worthy of note, unless its termination is 

 more lunated ; but this distinction must be received with caution, 

 as the injury commonly sustained in this part by dried specimens 

 renders its character equivocal. 



" The skin is smooth, equally free from scales, warts, tubercles, 

 or protuberances of any kind, with the exception of the granulations 

 on the head before mentioned. It is of a yellowish brown colour 

 throughout, darker on the upper part of the head, and above the 

 lateral line ; lighter below, the lightest part being immediately 

 posterior to the operculum. This description is taken from the 

 dried specimen ; what variations occur in the fresh subject I have 

 no means of ascertaining. Towards the superior edge of the dorsal, 

 and over the ventrals and caudal, the colour becomes yet darker : 

 the pectorals incline to blackish. The black bars and blotches 

 which prevail throughout the dark ground co\oar oi Agr. torvus are 

 entirely absent in this species. The lateral line is nearly straight, 

 marked as it passes along the anterior part of the body by distant 

 and obscure tubercles, all traces of which disappear at the com- 

 mencement of the soft dorsal. These are the principal distinctions 

 between this fish and Agr. torvus, with which it has probably hi- 

 therto been confounded. 



"A remark of Cuvier and M, Valenciennes in the ' Histoire Na- 

 turelle des Poissons,' supposes the existence of other species, al- 

 though the little there said is not applicable to this: ' Parmi nos 

 individus, il s'en trouve un dont la peau est toute brune,' (so far only 

 it accords with our description) ' mais relevee partout en petites 

 bosselures arrondies, comme des vermes peu saillantes. Nous ne 

 Savons s'il appartient a une espece differente, ou si ce n'est qu'une , 

 variete.* It may not unreasonably be assumed from the above 

 description that this is a distinct species, under which impression it 

 has been brought under the notice of this Society, 



" It is an inhabitant of the Cape seas, from whence the presertt 



