27 



diminutive teeth. Scales rather large. Dorsal fins two ; 



remote from each other ; first with four spin y rays ; 



pectoral fins pointed, caudal forked. Surface of head and 



back dark steel-blue, mingled with oil-green j sides 



beneath the lateral line greyish-white, on silvery ground • 



cheeks, lower jaw, belly, and ventral fin white. Fins 



greyish- green. Body crossed by nine narrow longitudinal 



lines. Interior of mouth pure-white ; Iris silvery. Length 



fourteen inches ; breadth nearly four inches. 



This species, as well as the following, enters the mouth of several 

 rivers. Nursed in ponds, it grows extremely fat, and attains an un- 

 common size. A specimen so fed measured nineteen inches. 



35. Mugil Multilineatus. A. Smith (?) (Springer ; 

 Leaping Mullet. J — Greatly resembling the former, but 

 easily distinguishable • its head being neither so broad 

 nor flat, but rather a little convex on its top. Lower 

 jaw more rounded, and body traversed by thirteen lon- 

 gitudinal narrow stripes. Colour of back and upper side 

 greenish-brown : crown of head faint purple with oil- 

 green. Gill covers tinted with gold ; ventral fin purplish. 

 Lower part of belly greyish- white on a silvery base. Length 

 twelve inches. It is in the habit of leaping constantly 

 and with considerable velocity, when it finds itself 

 entangled in a net ; and hence its name. 



Besides the two kinds of Mullet here described, there are three or 

 four more species recorded as inhabitants of the bays and rivers of the 

 Colony. All of them are caught with the net. They make good 

 table-fish, but are more frequently salted or smoke-dried (Bokkoms), 

 like the Herring, and, thus preserved, form a very considerable article 

 of home consumption as well as of export. 



BLENNIDiE. 



36. Blennius Versicolor. Mihi. N. Sp. (Klipvisch.) 

 Body elongated, smooth, slimy, spindle-shaped ; head 

 thick, obtuse ; forehead tapering towards the snout. 

 Muzzle short, truncate ; mouth small ; lips fleshy ; teeth 

 in several rows ; those of the first, strong, pointed, conic, 

 hooked ; inner ones small, paved. Dorsal fin nearly as 



