ATIMOSTOMA CAPENSIS. 



The first dorsal fin commences immediately over the hinder extremity of 

 the humeral plates, and a little behind the point of attachment of the pectoral 

 fin ; the anterior rays, viz. the second, third, and fourth are much the longest, 

 the last ray, which is close to the first of the second dorsal is scarcely visible. 

 The first ray of the second dorsal is longest, next to it the second, third, and 

 fourth, which are nearly of equal length, and considerably longer than the 

 remaining rays. Pectoral fin rather narrow and very long, the sixth ray the 

 longest, and the entire fish is exactly three and a half times its length. The 

 ventral fins are small and short. The anal fin is a little shorter than the 

 second dorsal and similarly shaped. The caudal is deeply lunated, the 

 extremities rather pointed. 



The head, with the exception of the space immediately behind the poste- 

 rior edge of the orbit, smooth and without scales; the back, sides, and 

 under parts covered with large, very pliant, somewhat ovate scales, the 

 hinder edge of each generally more or less jagged and irregular. The lateral 

 line commences a little below the upper extremity of the operculum, and 

 terminates at the base of the caudal fin. 



DIMENSIONS. 



In. Lin. 



In. Lin. 

 From the tip of the snout to the anterior 



edge of the orbit 2 6 



of the snout to the hinder 



edge of the operculum .. 10 9 

 of the snout to the com- 

 mencement of the 1st 

 dorsal fin 12 9 



From the tip of the snout to the base of 



the pectoral fin 11 3 



Length of the 2nd dorsal fin 11 6 



of the pectoral fin 12 



of the anal fin 9 9 



Total length of fish 36 



This fish will take its place in the fourth tribe of the Scomberidae of Cuvier; charac- 

 terised by the want of spurious finlets, or free spines on the back, and of keeled scales on the 

 tail. 



It differs from the several forms which have already been referred to the tribe in various 

 respects, but in none more than in the size of its scales, and in the universal and regular manner 

 in which they are placed upon the body and tail. The form of the head is somewhat similar to 

 that of Nomeus Mauritii; the second dorsal and anal fins are like those of the more typical 

 species of the second, third, and fourth tribes, and the pectoral fins have their representatives 

 in all the four divisions; but in the first they are comparatively few. 



The specimen described, the only one I have seen, was found on the beach, to the north- 

 ward of Cape Town, after a heavy gale of wind. It was partially decayed before it was dis- 

 covered, hence some of the more interesting characters could not be ascertained. 



