CHONOPHORUS 217 



strong frenum, and form a very powerful adhesive organ; the 

 pectorals broad, their length equal to or greater than that of 

 caudal but not quite that of head. 



The color of living specimens from Saltan River was dusky 

 greenish with about eight broad, blackish crossbars over back, 

 the first between the opercles, the second over the pectorals in 

 front of first dorsal, two under first dorsal, three under second 

 dorsal, and one just before caudal; a series of irregular dark 

 blotches along middle of each side ; the head was irregularly mar- 

 bled with spots and lines ; two lines extended forward and down- 

 ward from eye to margin of snout ; there was a blackish spot at 

 upper posterior angle of opercle and a dark blotch on upper part 

 of base of pectoral; the first dorsal lightly barred and second 

 dorsal and caudal strongly crossbarred by many rows of dark 

 spots. 



Alcoholic specimens fade to yellowish brown, with the mark- 

 ings as already described; the snout may become blackish and 

 many of the markings may fade, but the lateral blotches, espe- 

 cially the posterior ones, the pectoral and opercular blotches, and 

 the two lines on the snout, are always more or less evident. 



Chonophorus melanocephalus presents considerable variation 

 in color, specimens from wide shallow streams being much paler 

 than those living under rocks in mountain torrents. It is an im- 

 portant food fish in Cagayan Valley, and is also one of the chief 

 ipon gobies of northern Luzon, ascending Cagayan River in Feb- 

 ruary and March. The flesh of the adults is sweet and savory. 

 Its horizontal ventral profile, broad fins, and powerful sucking 

 disk adapt it for life in the swiftest rivers, where it clings to th& 

 bottom under the shelter of bowlders. Its peculiar mouth is also 

 an adaptation for life as a bottom dweller as it nuzzles around 

 for food under the rocks. 



In addition to large numbers examined in the field, I have 

 studied alcoholic specimens, ranging in length from 20 to 135 

 millimeters, from the following localities : 



Laoag River, Bacarra, Ilocos Bangued, Abra Province, 15. 



Norte Province, 8. Kalaba, Abra Province, 3. 



Barrio La Paz, Laoag, Ilocos Bauang Sur, La Union Prov- 



Norte Province, 33. ince, 11. 



Laoag River, Laoag, Ilocos Nor- Buguey, Cagayan Province, li- 

 te Province, 13. Tuguegarao, Cagayan Province^ 



Laoag River, Ilocos Norte Prov- 3. 



ince, 22. Lamug, Pinacanawan River, Ca- 



Abra River, 5. gayan Province, 9. 



