SARGUS CAPENSIS. 



cutting, and the base or neck of each, as seen on looking into the mouth, is 

 lengthened, narrow, and laterally compressed. Molars in both jaws sub- 

 hemispherical, varying in size, and arranged in two or three irregular rows. 

 In the upper jaw, besides the molars, there exists also externally to them a 

 narrow band of short filamentary teeth. Scapulary scale large and semi- 

 circular, Lateral line slightly and regularly curved ; it commences at the 

 upper extremity of the operculum, and terminates near the middle of the 

 caudal fin, and towards and on the latter consists of short, slender, simple 

 tubes. Preoperculum excepting towards its margin, operculum and inter- 

 operculum covered with scales, the other parts of head smooth and without 

 scales; the scales of preoperculum sub-quadrangular, and disposed in arched 

 rows, the convexity of which is downwards and backwards. Scales covering 

 the body large, somewhat six-sided ; those towards the back in rows extend- 

 ing obliquely from before backwards towards the belly in nearly vertical 

 rows. Scales on base of fins small and irregularly shaped. Dorsal fin 

 arched, the sixth spinous ray the longest, the first about half the length of 

 the second ; the cartilaginous rays nearly of equal length, and shorter than 

 the spinous ones. Anal fin slightly arched, the second and third spiny rays 

 nearly of equal length and longest, the third the strongest. Pectoral fins 

 long, the fourth ray the longest; ventral fins rather long and pointed, the 

 first soft ray being much longer than the innermost one. Caudal fin deeply 

 forked, the upper and under extremes very pointed. Length from nose to 

 commencement of dorsal fin 5 inches 2 lines, to pectoral fin 4 inches ; the 

 base of ventrals directly under the commencement of the dorsal fin. Length 

 from nose to middle of hinder edge of caudal fin 14 inches. 



B. 7; D. 4f ; P. 16; V.£j A. ^ ; C. 19. 



Found in the same localities with S. Hottentotus, and consumes the same description of 

 food. 



The shape of the scales below the eyes, the length of the ventral fins, the smaller number 

 of incisor teeth and the greater number of molars, together with many other minor differences, 

 constitute characters by which this species is readily to be distinguished from S. Hottentotus. 



