SOUTHERN AFRICA. 37 
that assist tlic wolves in cleansing tlie outskirts of the town 
of a nuisance that is tacitly permitted by tlie police. Ducka, 
teals, and snijjcs, are met with in the winter season about the 
pools and periodical lakes on the isthnius. Turtle doves, a 
thrush called the Sprew, and the Fiscal bird, tlie Lanius Col- 
lai'is, frequent the gaidens near the town. 
The market is constantly supplied with a variety of sea-fisb 
that are caught in the bay, and every where along the coast. 
The Roman, a deep rose-colored perch, is considered as the 
best fish in the colony, but is never caiiglit except in False- 
bay, and on the coast to the eastward of it. It has one back 
fin with twelve spines, and divided tail ; a silver band along 
each side of the back fin, turning down to the belly, and a 
blue arched line over the upper mandible connecting the two 
eyes. Next to th'^ Roman are the red and the white Steea- 
brassems, or Stone-breams, two species, or perhaps varieties 
only,, of perches. They are caught from one to thirty pounds 
in weight. Of the same genus there are several other species, 
and all of them tolerably good. One of these called the 
Cabeljau, with the root of the pectoral fins black, tail un- 
divided, and one back fin, grows to the weight of forty 
pounds: another, called the Hottentot's fish, from its dirty 
brown color, Avith one back fin,, and tail bifid, commonly runs 
about four pounds : another perch, called the Silver-fish, has 
one back fin, and tail bifid ; ground of a rose-colored tinge, 
with five longitudinal silver bands on each side, described 
probably as the perca striata : and a fourth species, called the 
Stompneus, with one back fin and tail bifid, is distinguished 
by six transverse bands of black and white spots down each 
