242 PEECT SLADEN TEUST EXPEDITION. 



in the British Museum by specimens from the Persian Gulf, collected by Mr. F. W. 

 Townsend, which I formerly determined as Gohms hoplo][)omus, C. & V. [H. piilcher, 

 Ehrenberg). The genus Hoplopomm, Ehrenb., 1837 (Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. ix. 

 p. 66), differs from Gobius in having the first ray of each dorsal fin a pungent spine. 



141. Hoplopomus acanthistius, sp. u. (Plate 29. fig. 3.) 



Depth of body equal to or a little less than tlie length of head, which is 8f to 8f in 

 the length of the fish. Head twice as long as broad, but only a little longer than deep. 

 Snout declivous, shorter than the eye, the diameter of which is 3 in the length of head ; 

 interorbital space narrow. Jaws equal anteriorly, or the lower slightly projecting ; 

 maxillary extending to below anterior \ of eye ; a pair of small lateral canines in the 

 lower jaw. Posterior edge of praeoperculum with 1 or 2 short spinous projections near 

 the angle. Head naked; 10 to 12 small scales in a series from occiput to origin of 

 dorsal fin ; scales on the body large, ciliated, 28 to 30 in a longitudinal series. Dorsal 

 VI, I 10 ; first ray of each fin a short, stout, pungent spine ; spinous dorsal, in the 

 female, about as high as the soft dorsal, in the male more elevated and with the rays, 

 except the first, produced into filaments, the fourth and fifth the longest, as long as the 

 head. Anal I 10. Caudal rounded or doubly truncate. Pectoral f the length of head ; 

 ventrals extending to the vent (?) or origin of anal [6 ). A series of dark spots on the 

 middle of the side, ending at the base of the caudal ; a few dark spots on the upper part 

 of the body ; fins nearly immaculate (in spirit), but traces of 1 or 2 series of rings on the 

 lower part of the second dorsal and of stripes on the anal. 



Maldives, Mulaku, 27 fathoms. 



Eour specimens, measuring up to 70 mm. in total length. 



This species is very close to S. notacanthus, Blkr., which appears from Bleeker's 

 description to have larger scales on the nape and a ray less in the second dorsal fin. 



142. Gohiopterns modestus, sp. u. (Plate 29. fig. 1.) 



Depth of body equal to length of head, 3 to 3^ in the length of the fish. Head naked, 

 as long as deep. Snout short ; eye small. Mouth very oblique, not extending to below 

 the eyes. About 24 scales in a longitudinal series. Dorsal VI, I 9. Anal I 9. Dorsal 

 and anal fins subequal in height, the longest rays about \ the length of head. Pectoral 

 nearly as long as the head ; ventrals much shorter. Caudal rounded. Blackish grey. 



Chagos Archipelago, Egmont and Salomon. 



Several specimens, the largest 40 mm. in total length. 



Cliampsodontid«. 



143. Champsoclon sechellensis, sp. n. (Plate 31. fig. 2.) 



Depth of body 4^ to 4f in the length, length of head 3f . Snout as long as or a little 

 longer than eye, the diameter of which is 4 to 4|^ in the length of head and greater than 

 the interorbital width. Prsemaxillaries with a double notch anteriorly; maxillary 

 extending beyond the vertical from posterior edge of eye ; distance from tip of snout to 



