PARAGOBIODON 173 



Dorsal VI, 1-9 or 10 ; anal I, 9 ; pectoral rays 21 ; there are 23 

 or 24 scales in a longitudinal series. 



The depth of the stout, short, plump body varies with age, 3 

 to 4 times in length, or less in the very young, which are deeper 

 proportionately; head deep and broad, with boldly convex pro- 

 file, its depth equal to or f of its length, which is equal to or 

 less than depth of trunk, and 3.3 to 4.8 times in length ; breadth 

 of head 0.7 to 0.8 its own length; the short snout equal to or 

 shorter than the circular eye, which is 3 to 3.5 times in head; 

 eyes lateral, the broad convex interorbital space 0.25 to 0.5 more 

 than eye diameter; mouth small, strongly curved downward 

 so that it is nearly vertical, lips thick, jaws equal, chin heavy, 

 square, and often projecting; entire head naked back to first 

 dorsal, more or less covered above, on opercles, and especially 

 beneath, with soft short prickles or fibrils which may become 

 hairlike; they may be scattered about very thinly, or may form 

 a dense beardlike mat, especially on underside of head ; ventrals 

 also often covered with similar prickles; dorsals very close to- 

 gether, or their base subcontinuous, low, first dorsal less than 

 half the depth; second dorsal higher, posterior rays elongate, 

 angulate, and equal to or slightly more than half the depth ; anal 

 similar to second, dorsal but lower ; in no case do dorsal and anal 

 reach caudal when depressed; caudal rounded, equal to distance 

 from front margin of eye to posterior end of head; pectoral 

 broad, its length equal to or greater than caudal; ventrals typi- 

 cal of the genus. 



The color variable; some are uniform yellowish or brownish 

 yellow, witn paler fins ; others vary from dark brown to brown- 

 ish black, with black fins; the whole body may be dark or the 

 front part may be brownish red. 



According to the artist T. S. Espinosa, a fresh specimen from 

 Zamboanga had the head of clear sepia, shading off to burnt 

 sienna ; the body, fins, and fibrils on the head ivory black. Two 

 specimens from Guindulman, Bohol, are black all over, except 

 the brownish red head. 



The Bureau of Science collection contains the following 

 specimens, varying from 12 to 30 millimeters in length: 



Puerto Galera, Mindoro, 22. Samal Island, Davao Gulf, 4. 



Zamboanga, Mindanao, 1. Sitankai, 15. 



Guindulman, Bohol, 2. 



Giinther is the only author who has recorded this species 

 from the Philippines, the Challenger Expedition having obtained 

 it at Cebu. The Bureau of Science has a color sketch, made 



