RHINOGOBIUS 187 



may reach anus; the caudal is obtusely rounded and is shorter 

 than or may equal head; the anal papilla very small. 



The trunk covered with large scales which are finely ctenoid, 

 except on the ventral surface; before the dorsal the scales are 

 small and extend forward to eyes ; in some specimens there are 

 16 scales before dorsal; others, similar in other respects, have 

 23; the base of pectoral partially scaled and upper part of 

 opercle covered with fine scales; two or three rows of minute 

 papillae extend longitudinally across cheek, the larger one across 

 middle, a much smaller one (sometimes two) on lower part; a 

 similar line runs above the supraopercular groove from posterior 

 angle of opercle to eye, with a branch curving forward under eye ; 

 a vertical row on anterior -part of opercle and one or two short 

 crossrows; several large mucus pores on head as follows: One 

 a short distance from inner side of second nostril, one right 

 behind eye on supraopercular groove, two more on the same 

 groove farther back, and one at forward and one at posterior 

 end of interorbital space. 



The color in life dark green above, paler below, the region 

 about the ventrals pearly ; five short, wide, black crossbars along 

 back, the first on head behind eyes, the second in front of first 

 dorsal, the third beneath first dorsal, the fourth and fifth under 

 second dorsal ; along the middle of the side five large black spots, 

 the last and most conspicuous on base of caudal; above angle 

 of gill opening is a large, brilliant, emerald green spot with a 

 narrow black margin; on sides of head are small green spots, 

 either in two rows or many small scattered ones; they may 

 extend upon the base of pectoral ; along the sides are longitud- 

 inal rows of golden green spots, a spot on each scale ; the dorsals 

 are marked by vertical black bars and have a golden band along 

 upper margin; the anal dusky, with two longitudinal rows of 

 white spots; the caudal blackish; the pectorals and ventral 

 dusky, the latter encircled by a white margin. 



The color in alcohol brown above to very pale yellowish on 

 belly; the dorsal bands become dark brown and the large, lat- 

 eral, black spots fade more or less; the shoulder spot turns to 

 blue or black and the golden green spots fade to yellow or pearl, 

 or disappear entirely, while no trace remains of the spots on 

 the cheeks. 



I have observed numerous living specimens of this brilliantly 

 decorated little goby, from the estuaries of Malabon. The above 



