Synopsis of the Genera described. (a) Spinous and soft portions of dorsal fin of nearly equal extent. 1. Body naked. Jaws with a single series of immovable teeth and generally a posterior canine on one or both jaws. Gill opening wide 2. Body naked. Jaws with a single series of immovable teeth and a strong curved posterior canine on each side. Gill opening reduced to a small foramen above root of pectorals. Dorsal fin low 3. Closely allied to Aspidontus, but dorsal fin with anterior spines elevated BLENNIUS. ASPIDONTUS. PETROSCIRTES. 4. Jaws with a series of numerous small movable teeth implanted (b) Dorsal fin or fins composed chiefly of spiens with a few posterior rays. 5. A single dorsal fin composed of many spines and one or more soft rays. Teeth in a narrow band or cluster, or a single 6. Two dorsal fins, the anterior composed of three spines 7. Three dorsal fins, the two anterior being spinous BLENNIUS, L. CLINUS. TRIPTERYGIUM. Body moderately elongate, naked. Snout short; profile of head bluntly rounded; cleft of mouth small, horizontal. A single series of slender, curved, close-set, immovable teeth on each jaw, with a curved canine on each side of both jaws or of the lower jaw only. Gill-opening wide. Tentacles above the orbits more or less developed, sometimes absent. Dorsal fin entire, with a more or less pronounced notch between the spinous and soft portions. Ventrals jugular, formed by a hidden spine and two rays, the latter split into two, well developed. Pectorals moderate. Lateral line developed anteriorly. BLENNIUS BIFILUM, Günth. Blennius bifilum, Günth., iii., p. 225. No curved posterior canines. Depth of body equals length of head and is 4 times in total length excluding caudal. Distance from eye to point of snout 1 times diameter of eye, which is 3 times in length of head and 1 times interorbital width; depth of caudal peduncle about 2 to 23 times in length of head. No orbital tentacles, but there is a pair of slender tapering filaments on the nape; interorbital space depressed in centre; snout very obtuse, with anterior profile abruptly descending; upper lip thick and projects beyond lower, maxillary reaches barely to vertical of anterior margin of orbits; eyes prominent and placed high in the head, bulging at interorbital space. Dorsal xi 18; commences over posterior border of operculum and does not quite reach base of caudal; soft-rayed portion higher than spinous, a notch between spinous and soft dorsal. Pectorals 14; slightly longer than head and reach to vertical of origin of anal, pointed, middle rays longest. Ventrals 1 2; about length of head. Anal 20; 1st ray short, remainder about the height of spinous dorsal, membranes incised. Caudal nearly as long as head, truncate, rays divided. Lateral line tubes only apparent anteriorly where the lateral line is arched over the pectorals. Colour (of preserved specimens), grey, seven or eight transverse dark bands cross body, extending partly on to fins; dorsal with dull brown dots, also on caudal, where they form cross bands; scattered over the body more or less distinctly are small circular or oval areas devoid of pigment and sometimes bordered by a dark circle. Four specimens, 43 mm., 51 mm., 53 mm., 55 mm. in length, respectively, from Mr. Robinson, Natal. BLENNIUS CORNUTUS, L. Blennius, sp. Gronov. Zoophyl., n. 264. Blennius cornutus, L. Amoen. Acad., 1, p. 316, and Mus. Ad. Fried., p. 161; Bl. Schn., p. 169; Gronov. Syst. Ed. Gray, p. 95; Günth., iii., p. 213. Blennius grandicornis, Cuv. and Val., xi., p. 258. A strong slightly-curved canine on each side of lower jaw, a slightly smaller one on each side of upper [in one specimen one side of the lower jaw had 2 canines]. Depth of body 3 to 4 times in total length excluding caudal, length of head 33 to 4 times. Distance from eye to point of snout about twice interorbital width and 13 to 1 times diameter of eye, which is 4 to 5 times in length of head; depth of caudal peduncle 2 to 3 times in length of head. A tapering filament, longer in the males than the females, with a group of shorter filaments springing from its base on each side is situated on upper posterior angle of each eye, and the anterior nostril has a fringed tentacle or flap; interorbital space concave; a deep transverse groove behind orbits, which are prominent and placed high up: anterior profile of head descends abruptly, snout obtuse, giving a somewhat swollen appearance to the throat; upper lip overhangs. lower, maxillary reaches to vertical of anterior third or middle of orbits. Mucous pores on head and shoulders; and the arched portion of the lateral line is formed by two rows of pores, which are sometimes apparent as a single row posteriorly. Dorsal xii 17-20; slightly emarginate, commences about in line with posterior margin of preoperculum, not joined to caudal; spines weak, the anterior ones curved backwards in their upper half and to length of head; a well-defined notch between spinous and soft-rayed portions, the latter being about equal to or a little higher than the spinous portion. Pectorals 14, oval in outline, middle rays longest and to length of head, membranes incised. Ventrals 12; to length of head. Anal II 19-21; in the males the spines are tuberculous, in the females the 1st spine is not always apparent and there are no tubercles; soft rays not so high as those of soft dorsal, membranes incised. Caudal slightly rounded, inner rays divided, about length of head. Colour (alive), dark, with shades of lighter brown or faint bars on body; a black margin to anal, lower rays of pectorals pinkish ; tentacles over eyes light red, grey, &c.; thoracic and abdominal region white or light coloured; a tinge of yellow and pink on body and fins. Colour (of preserved specimens), light brown, head and margin of anal black; sometimes faint marbling on body. Four specimens, 84 mm., 93 mm., 103 mm., 107 mm. in length respectively, from Kalk Bay. BLENNIUS CRINITUS, C. and V. Blennius crinitus, Cuv. and Val., xi., p. 237; Guichen, Explor. Algér. Poiss., p. 72; Günth., iii., p. 224. A little Blenny remarkable for the number of filaments which it bears on its brows and nape: above each eye there are 3 small ones, and in a longitudinal line extending from the interorbital space nearly to the base of the dorsal there are 10 or 11, of which the longest is about the height of the head; there are apparently no nasal tentacles. The profile of the head descends rapidly. There are about 30 fine teeth on each jaw; no canines, or with very small ones posteriorly. The head, almost as high as long, is about 4 times in the total length. The dorsal is slightly emarginate above the 11th spine, which is about the length of the others; it is joined to the back before the caudal. The two first spines of the anal are tuberculous. Pectorals length of body; ventrals the length of body. D. xii 14; A. II 16-18; C. 15; P. 16; V. 1 2. The colour when fresh appears to be green with brown shades; ends of filaments on nape are brown and white, and less markedly the dorsal spines, with a round black spot between 1st and 2nd spine; anal has a black border and the extremities of the rays white. BLENNIUS CAPITO, C. and V. Blennius capito, Cuv. and Val., xi., p. 260; Günth., iii., p. 215. This species is marked by the curved portion of the lateral line being formed anteriorly by a double row of pores, with a single row for the rest of its length. Its profile very abrupt, which causes the swelling of the throat to be more apparent. There is a very marked transverse depression on the head behind the eyes. A soft skin, loose and spongy, envelops and nearly hides the dorsal and anal: head 4 times in total length, it is notably almost as broad as high. There are 36 or 38 teeth in each jaw; no canines, or at least only a very small one posteriorly, scarcely distinguishable from the other teeth. The length of the ventrals is nearly 9 times in that of the body. The dorsal is joined to the back before the caudal, which is not longer than the ventrals. The two fungiform tubercles are very pronounced. There are several well-marked pores on the cheek. D. xiii 19; A. 23, &c. In preservative it appears of a blackish brown, paler on the belly, and several whitish tints are apparent in the form of marbling, &c. The species is large for the genus-7 or 8 inches. NOTE. Günther describes the superciliary margin as swollen, with a short fringed tentacle posteriorly. BLENNIUS CASTANEUS, Cast. Blennius castaneus, Cast. Mem., p. 50. Very near to B. capito of Cuv. and Val., but the lateral line is crossed on its anterior portion by a certain number of small transverse incisions, and behind the curve the line is formed of a simple series of strong and isolated points. The colour is a uniform chestnut, even that of the eyes. There are rows of pores round the eyes. D. xi 16; A. 19; C. 13; P. 14; V. 2. Total length, 90 mm. This species differs from B. capito in the construction of the lateral line, and the number of rays in the fins; it was sent from Algoa Bay by Mr. Chabaud. BLENNIUS SCULLYI, n. sp. A single large curved tooth on either side of each jaw, those on the upper jaw smaller than those on the lower. Depth of body equals length of head, and is about 3 times in total length excluding caudal. Distance from eye to point of snout 1 times diameter of eye, which is 4 times in length of head; interorbital width diameter of eye; depth of caudal peduncle 3 times in length of head. A single filament, with shorter ones springing from its base, over each eye; a tentacle on anterior nostril; interorbital space with a longitudinal groove; a transverse groove behind orbits; snout obtuse, the anterior profile abruptly descending; upper jaw overhangs lower, maxillary reaches to vertical of anterior third of orbits; eyes prominent. Dorsal xii 19; commences in line with posterior margin of preoperculum, continuous but not joined to caudal; spinous portion. rather lower than soft-rayed, with a notch between them caused by shortening of posterior spines; the last soft ray divided. Pectorals 14; broad and pointed, nearly length of head, reach to anal. Ventrals 1 2; about length of head, rays divided and enclosed in membrane nearly their whole length. Anal II 21; rays slightly thickened at extremities, shorter anteriorly, membranes slightly incised. Caudal slightly rounded, length of head. Colour (of preserved specimen), light greyish brown, mottled; a dark patch on membrane between 1st and 2nd dorsal spines. A single specimen, 70 mm. in length, from Mr. Scully, Walwich Bay, after whom it has been named. BLENNIUS OCELLATUS, n. sp. No large curved teeth in jaws. Depth of body 3 to 4 times in total length excluding caudal, length of head 33 to 41 times. Distance from eye to point of snout equals diameter of eye, which is about 3 times in length of head; interorbital width diameter of eye; depth of caudal peduncle 2 to 2 times in length of head. A long filament over the centre of each eye, sometimes divided at the extremity, with a cluster of short filaments branching off its base generally in the rear; interorbital space with a longitudinal |