SARGUS HOTTENTOTUS.— Smith. 



Pisces.— Plate XXIII. Fig. 1. 



S. corpore fasciis quinque verticalibus variegatis ; maxillse dentibus incisoribus duodicem, mandibulas 



octo; pinnis ventralibus postice subarcuatis ; pinna caudali furcata. 

 Longitudo e naso ad extremitatem pinnae caudalis 1 7 unc. 6 lin. 



Colour. — The upper and lateral parts of the head blackish purple, tinted 

 with auricula and plum-purple ; interoperculum and lower surface of under- 

 jaw verging on plum-purple. The back and sides superiorly faintly striped, 

 longitudinally blackish purple and lilac-brown; sides inferiorly and belly 

 silvery white, the scales narrowly edged with greenish brown. The body, 

 besides being thus marked, is also crossed by five vertical broad greenish 

 black bands, the first extending between the commencement of the dorsal 

 fin and the origin of the ventrals, and the last about midway between the 

 dorsal and caudal fins. Dorsal fin brownish purple, the rays lightest; 

 pectoral fins pale greenish brown ; ventrals brownish green, and the anal and 

 caudal light reddish brown with tints of purple. Eyes white, with dashes of 

 coppery green. Lips reddish white. 



Colour of Dried Skin. — Top of the head chesnut-brown, glossed with oil- 

 green ; the sides of the head and the entire of the body greenish white, and 

 the vertical bands which continue distinct are brownish red. Dorsal fin light 

 purplish brown, the spines greenish white. 



Form, &c. — Figure subovate ; head small, anteriorly pointed, and about 

 one-fourth of the length of the fish. Superior outline, in front of dorsal 

 fin, strongly arched, posteriorly to its commencement slightly inclined 

 towards the tail. Ventral outline throughout slightly arched ; the inter- 

 maxillary bones admit of being projected considerably forwards, and when 

 they are so circumstanced there is a considerable hollow in the profile imme- 

 diately over the eyes, as is to be seen in the figure : when they are otherwise 

 the slope is regular and continuous. Lips very thick, pulpy and villose. 

 Incisor teeth of upper jaw twelve in number, closely set, rather narrow, 



