XIPHIURUS* CAPENSIS.— Smith. 
Pisces.— Plate XXXI. 
X. pallide carneus purpureo flavoque variegatus ; maxillae superioris dentibus versus apicem magnis ; 
pinna pectorali subovali. 
Longitudo e nasi apice ad caudte extremitateni 38 unc. 
Koning Ivlip viscli of the Cape Colonists. 
Colour. — Prevailing colour light sienna-yellow, clouded or shaded with a 
variety of other hues ; the sides of the head behind the eyes, the sides of the 
body interiorly, the belly and the tail towards its point, faintly tinted with 
imperial-purple. The sides of the head under and in front of the eyes, and 
the sides of the body and tail in the course of the lateral line, are variegated 
with shades of pale saffron-yellow ; branchial membrane striped longitudinally 
with a colour intermediate between light red and gamboge-yellow, and 
tints of the same are observed towards the point of the upper jaw. Lower 
jaw pale imperial-purple. Pectoral fin sienna-yellow, shaded with yellowish- 
irown. The other fin, formed by the union of dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, 
pale aurora-red, shaded with purplish red. Eyes greenish white. 
Variety, Fig. 2. — Sides of head pale aurora-red, shaded immediately 
behind eyes with king’s-yellow, and in front of eyes with pale brownish red ; 
preoperculum superiorly purplish red, with an intermixture of imperial-pur- 
ple ; operculum, particularly the upper portion, strongly tinted with imperial- 
purple. Branchial membrane striped longitudinally with pale blackish purple. 
The sides of the body near the lateral line purplish red, clouded with oil- 
* Ch. Gen. Teeth of upper jaw in two bands, tlie intermaxillary and palatal; those of lower in one, 
the teeth of the outer row of each band long, and formed for holding, the others very small ; vomer armed 
with teeth of the same description. Operculum near its upper and hinder edge armed with a strong, bony 
spine. Ventral fins wanting. Dorsal , caudal , and anal fins united. Barbels, two, pendent from 
the under surface of the lower jaw, a little in front of the angle of the mouth. Body subcylindrical. 
Tail compressed and ensiform. Scales small. Branchial rays, seven. 
