49 First Annual Report 
Family GOBIESOCIDAE 
Rimicola eigenmanni (Gilbert) 
(Plate III, I, J) 
This species was found to be fairly common in a little cove near 
Laguna, where it lived in a growth of Phyllospadix (eel grass), in 
shallow water. Jordan and Evermann in ‘‘Fishes of North and Mid- 
dle America’’ record two species of this genus, R. eigenmanni and R. 
muscarum, the one greenish, the other brownish in color, and suppos- 
edly differing in fin rays. They have since been shown to be simply 
forms of one species (J. O. Snyder, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. XXXV; 
183, Oct. 1908). Both forms were found, presumably clinging to 
Phyllospadix, the green form resembling the living plants, the brown 
the dead ones. Whether or not the two forms actually selected the 
plants of their own color upon which to attach themselves could not 
be ascertained. A careful search was made to find individuals so 
attached, but it was unsuccessful. They detached themselves as soon 
as they were taken out of the water, if they were ever attached, and 
no specimens were seen in the water. The only way they could be 
taken at all was by means of a small hand net swept through the 
eel grass. Fifteen or twenty specimens were secured in this way. 
When put into vessels of water with live and dead Phyllospadix they 
seemed to show no preference in regard to color, attaching them- 
selves to either brown or green blades indiscriminately, In size the 
series ranged from one-half to one and one-half inches in total length. 
The following color notes were taken from fresh specimens: Green 
form: Upper parts translucent green, uniformly speckled with 
minute dark dots of brown; head with two transverse rows of spots 
which intersect before the eyes and extend forward on the sides of 
snout, and backward to near the base of pectorals. A brown band 
extends from snout, through eye, to opercle; a similar one extends 
along the side of body through base of pectorals, becoming obsolete 
on tail and opercle. Caudal rays speckled like body, a dark band of 
spots across tip; other fins white. Under parts before vent white, 
behind similar to dorsum. Some specimens have spots on head ir- 
regular, some have anterior and posterior lateral bars fused into 
one long one. 
Brown form: Quite similar to the green form in markings, but 
ground color brownish, like dead leaves, instead of green. One 
specimen is covered with olive green mottlings on a brown  back- 
ground. Another has a row of large light spots on the posterior part 
of each side behind the pectorals. A wide range of variation is 
shown in even this small series of specimens. The two types of 
color, however, appear to be constant and equally common. After 
