sub-conical, with the lower jaw somewhat prominent. Palatine teeth none. The width of the interorbital space is less than the diameter of the eye; a small simple tentacle above the orbit. Scales exceedingly small. A short detached dorsal fin on the nape of the neck; the spines by which it is formed are slender and rather longer than those of the remaining fin; the latter not emarginate, united with the base of the caudal. Brown or yellowish, more or less spotted and marbled with darker; generally a series of whitish or yellowish spots along the sides.

Mediterranean. Cape of Good Hope. Coast of Australia.

European and African specimens, with 19 or 20 soft rays in the anal fin.

Australian specimens, with 23 soft rays in the anal fin.

The above description and synonymy are taken from Gunther's Catalogue of Fishes, vol. iii, p. 273.

CRISTICEPS MENTALIS, n. sp.

Teeth, a row of strong conical detached teeth on each jaw, with a band of smaller ones behind on anterior portion of upper jaw and a small patch at symphysis of lower jaw; a curved band on vomer. Depth of body about equals length of head, which is 4 times in total length excluding caudal. Distance from eye to point of snout 11⁄2 times diameter of eye, which is 1 times interorbital width and 5 times in length of head. No orbital tentacles; a fairly welldeveloped tentacle on anterior nostril; profile of head low and descending gradually to point of snout, which is somewhat acute; lower jaw slightly longer than upper, and the lower lip projects as a triangular flap on chin about the diameter of the eye in length; cleft of mouth slightly oblique, maxillary reaches to vertical of anterior third of orbits; eyes prominent.

Dorsal III xxxiii 7; emarginate anterior fin formed of three spines situated on the nape, commencing in line with posterior margin of preoperculum; the distance between the base of the 3rd of these spines and the 1st spine of the 2nd dorsal is about equal to the distance between the bases of the 1st and 3rd spine of anterior fin, and the membrane of the 3rd spine does not quite reach the base of the 1st spine of the 2nd dorsal. In the crest so formed the first 2 spines are subequal, about the length of the head, and with a short filament; the 3rd is shorter, being about length of head. The 2nd dorsal commences in line with base of pectorals and does not reach to caudal; spines weak, anteriorly about height of

longest spines of crest, lengthening to about height of crest posteriorly. Anterior soft rays about higher than adjacent spine, the succeeding rays shorten and are joined to caudal peduncle by a membrane. Pectorals 12; broad and oval, middle rays longest and nearly length of head, reaching to about vertical of the vent; membranes emarginate. Ventrals 1 3; strong, the rays enclosed in membrane for greater part of their length; middle ray longest and about length of head. Anal 11 29; rays lower anteriorly, increasing posteriorly to about height of last spine of 2nd dorsal; membranes incised. Caudal about length of head, slightly rounded, and with scalloped membranes; the length of free portion of caudal peduncle is slightly greater than its depth, which is 4 times in length of head. Scales on body and on base of pectorals, head naked. Body somewhat elongate, and tapering posteriorly.

Colour, a light brown mottled with lighter and darker shades; sometimes with light transverse bars on sides.

A single specimen, 193 mm. in length, from Mr. Brooking, East London, who kindly supplies a note of the colour and says the fish is very common and haunts rocky places on the beach.

The specific name, refers to the projecting flap on the chin.

TRIPTERYGIUM.

Three

Body elongate, covered with scales; snout of moderate extent. Jaws with a band of villiform teeth, and teeth on the palate. dorsal fins; the first two composed of spines, the third of soft rays. The second dorsal has the greater number of spines and is higher than the first, but is of less extent and not so high as the third. Ventrals jugular, composed of a hidden spine and two soft rays. Gill-opening wide.

TRIPTERYGIUM CAPENSE, n. sp.

Teeth, the inner and outer rows on the lower jaw and the outer row on the upper are sometimes larger than the others; a curved band on vomer and palatines. Depth of body 33 to 4 times in total length excluding caudal, length of head 3 to 3 times. Distance from eye to point of snout about equals diameter of eye, which is 3 to 3 times in length of head; interorbital width to diameter of eye; depth of caudal peduncle 3 to 3 times in length of head. A bunch of short filaments above each orbit, and a bunch on anterior nostril; interorbital space concave, with a ridge over each orbit; a transverse depression behind the orbits; head broad, profile rounded;

lower jaw slightly longer than upper, maxillary reaches to vertical of anterior third or middle of orbits.

Dorsal iv, xiv 10-11; the 1st dorsal commences in line with posterior margin of preoperculum, is separated from the 2nd by a space equal to about diameter of eye, and about the same distance separates the 2nd dorsal from the 3rd; the anterior rays of 3rd dorsal are from to length of head, the fin is not joined to the caudal, and the rays are split. Pectorals 16; pointed, middle rays longest and about the length of the head. Ventrals 1 2; about length of head. Anal II 22; rays increasing posteriorly to about height of 3rd dorsal. Caudal to length of head, truncate, rays split. Scales are comparatively large and with pectinate edges; they cover also the opercles, head, upper part of orbit of eyes, snout, and bases of caudal and pectoral fins. Lateral line interrupted about in line with base of 2nd ray of 3rd dorsal.

Colour, grey with about six irregular brown bands across the body alternating with bands that only extend from the abdominal margin. to median line.

Four specimens, obtained by the ss. Pieter Faure with the shrimp trawl in False Bay: 2 coloured grey, 53 mm. and 54 mm. in length respectively, caught about 24 miles from Seal Island, in 14 fms.; 2 of a dark red colour, 47 mm. and 56 mm. long, caught in Fish Hoek Bay, in 5 fms.

The following is Mr. Regan's description of a new species of Blennius, alluded to in note on p. 104.

BLENNIUS PUNCTIFER.

Depth of body 3 to 4 in the length, length of head 4 to 43. Snout obtuse, with nearly vertical anterior profile. Diameter of eye 3 to 4 in the length of head and twice the width of the flat interorbital region. Maxillary extending to below posterior edge of eye; very small canines in the lower jaw. On each side a short fringed nasal tentacle and a similar supra-orbital tentacle; occiput. with a median series of simple filaments.

Dorsal xii 14-15, with a very slight notch, commencing above the edge of præoperculum, ending just before the caudal; spinous part as high as or a little lower than the moderately elevated softrayed part. Anal 17-19. Caudal sub-truncate. Pectoral extending to above origin of anal. cross-bars; numerous very small dark spots on head, body, dorsal

Back with 6 more or less distinct dark

fin and base of pectoral fin; series of larger spots on caudal, anal, and distal part of pectoral; a more or less distinct dark spot or ocellus behind the first dorsal spine.

Kosi Bay, Zululand, and Port Natal (Ayres).

Three specimens, measuring up to 100 mm. in total length.

Blennius cristatus, Linn., is described by Cuvier and Valenciennes from the Island of Ascension as having the supra-orbital tentacles very small and simple, the anal fin with 16 rays, and the markings somewhat different.