16 



the body pale flesh-red, mixed with green, purple, and 



white. 



A large fish, from two to three feet long. Common on the coast 

 and at the month of rivers ; caught with the hook and drag-net. Is 

 one of the staple fishes on the market, dried and salted like Cod, and 

 exported to the Mauritius, and elsewhere. Its flesh, when young, is 

 good, but firm and dry in adult individuals. 



6. Otolithus ^Equldens. Cuv. & Val. CGeelbeck.J 

 Body oblong ; head conical ; mouth middle-sized ; lower 

 jaw pointed, longest. Teeth in both mandibles nearly 

 alike, numerous, sharp, crooked ; the anterior ones of the 

 upper jaw, largest. First dorsal fin low, spiny ; caudal 

 semilunated. Back and sides above the lateral line, dull 

 bluish-purple, intermixed with green and orange ; upper 

 surface of head flashed with aurora-red ; lower parts 

 silvery white, tinted with purple-grey. Inside of mouth 

 gamboge-yellow.* Iris orange. 



Clumsy, attaining a length of three feet and. more. Flesh dry, but fit 

 for salting. Common along the whole coast, where it is caught abund- 

 antly with the hook or net. It forms an article of food for the poor 

 and lazy, and it is also prepared for exportation. 



7. Umbrina Capensis. Mihi. n. sp. (Baardmannetje.) 

 Snout obtuse, thick, truncate ; lower jaw shortest with 

 a barbel; dorsal fins distinct. Head reddish-brown tinged 

 with gold. Back and sides ash-coloured on a silvery 

 base. Lower jaw and belly white, sprinkled with minute 

 dark dots. Scales large. Iris silvery. 



Measures from 2 to 2^- feet, and is reputed for its delicious flesh. 

 Chiefly caught in False Bay during summer. 



8. Cheilodactylus Easciatus. Cuv. & Val. {Steen- 

 viscJi.) — Body oblong, spindle-shaped ; head small ; lips 

 fleshy, retractile ; the upper one longest. Eyes middle- 

 sized, placed near the crown; mouth small; teeth velvety. 

 The five last rays of the pectoral fins extended beyond 

 their membrane, cartilagenous ; second ray largest, being 

 three inches long ; the other three, shorter and shorter. 



* Hence the vernacular name Oeelbeck (yellow mouth). 



