DENTEX ARGYROZONA. 



latter, the four anteriorniost of each jaw the largest and situated widely apart, 

 the middle two of the four are nearly directly in front and much smaller than 

 the two behind them ; the others, which form a continuous row behind the 

 large ones, are closely set, comparatively small, pointed, slightly curved in- 

 wards, and largest towards the angles of the mouth ; the criniform teeth are 

 situated on the inner side of the canines, and have a few small ones of the 

 latter description generally mixed with them, particularly towards the apex 

 of the lower jaw. The upper surface of the head anteriorly, the preorbital 

 plates, the lips, the under surface of the lower jaw, and the operculum and 

 preoperculum towards their posterior edge, smooth and without scales ; all 

 the other parts, the fins excepted, covered with scales. The scales on the 

 upper and hinder surface of the head are small, highly imbricate, and of a 

 somewhat rhomboidal form ; those of the body are much larger than those of 

 the head, and the portion of each which is uncovered is of a semilunar shape, 

 they also are highly imbricate. The scales immediately above and in front 

 of the ventral fins are rather small, but in disposition and configuration some- 

 what like those of the operculum ; at the base of each ventral fin externally a 

 long pointed horny scale. The operculum and preoperculum near to the hinder 

 edge are covered with a fine thin smooth skin. Lateral line slightly arched 

 and has its origin a little above the superior angle of the operculum, its ter- 

 mination at the base of the caudal fin about midway between its upper and 

 under edges. Dorsal fin highest anteriorly, the fifth ray longest, the third 

 and fourth only slightly shorter, the first and second cartilaginous rays rather 

 longer than the last bony ray. The pectoral fin superiorly very long and 

 pointed, the fourth ray the longest ; the ventral fins rather small, the third 

 ray longest ; the anal anteriorly deepest, the first and second cartilaginous 

 rays rather the longest ; caudal fin lunate. Length of specimen described, 

 23 inches ; length of head from anterior extremity of lower jaw to hinder edge 

 of operculum, 6j inches. 



D., V; P-, 16; V., i; A.,-f. ; 0., 19. 



Inhabits the seas of the eastern and western coasts of South Africa, and is a very common 

 fish in the Cape market. It is generally caught by means of baited hooks. 



