MUGIL CAPENSIS.— Cuv. et Val. 
Pisces. — Plate XXX. Fig. 1 and 1 a. 
M. capite superne dorsoque viridi-brunneis ; lateribus supeme pallide cseruleo-purpureis, inferne griseo- 
albis, lineis longitudinalibus novem signatia ; corporis squamis in seriebus quindecim dispositis ; 
naribus duplicibus approximates. 
Mugil capensis, Hist. Nat. des Poisson’s, par Cuv. et Val. tom. xi. fol, 108. 
Colour. — The upper surface of the head intermediate between light 
brownish red and oil-green ; back and sides, superiorly, intermediate be- 
tween rose-red and lilac-purple ; sides and belly inferiorly greyish white, all 
with tints of pale violet-purple. Back and sides with nine rather narrow 
longitudinal bars or stripes of a colour intermediate between brownish red 
and oil-green. Space under eyes strongly tinted with yellow ; operculum 
pale lavender-purple with tints of violet-purple. Fins intermediate between 
pale brownish purple-red and pale lavender-purple, all, excepting the first 
dorsal, slightly tinted with yellow. 
Form, &c. — Figure moderately robust ; dorsal outline slightly arched, 
ventral strongly arched in front of the dorsal fin, behind it nearly straight. 
Head rather small; nose narrow and slightly arched; nostrils double on 
each side, close together, and the hinder one much the largest ; body and tail 
measured to the centre of the latter four and a quarter times the length of 
the head. Scales under the eyes quadrangular, and arranged in four hori- 
zontal rows ; scales immediately behind eye rather large, irregularly^ 
shaped, and directed downwards, those of operculum much larger and 
directed downwards and backwards ; scales of body large, and the 
hinder edge of each three-sided ; they are disposed in fifteen longitudinal 
rows, forty-four scales in the row immediately over the pectoral fin. The 
hinder edge of the second dorsal, the anal, and the caudal fins slightly lunate ; 
the posterior and superior extremity of each pectoral fin pointed, the hinder 
edge nearly even. Base of anal and caudal fins coated with several rows of 
regular scales. Length of specimen described 12^ inches. 
1 D. 4; 2 D. 8; P. 1C; V. A. 10; C. 15. 
Inhabits the seas of the eastern and western coasts, and also some of the rivers and lakes 
of the colony. 
