242 PERCY SLADEN TRUST EXPEDITION. 
in the British Museum by specimens from the Persian Gulf, collected by Mr. F. W. 
Townsend, which I formerly determined as Gobius hoplopomus, C. & V. (HH. pulcher, 
Ehrenberg). The genus Hoplopomus, Ehrenb., 1837 (Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. ix. 
p- 66), differs from Godius in having the first ray of each dorsal fin a pungent spine. 
141. Hoplopomus acanthistius, sp.n. (Plate 29. fig. 3.) 
Depth of body equal to or a little less than the length of head, which is 32 to 33 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 3 of eye; a pair of small lateral canines in the 
lower jaw. Posterior edge of preeoperculum 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, 110; first ray of each fina 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. AnalI 10. Caudal rounded or doubly truncate. Pectoral } the length of head ; 
ventrals extending to the vent ( 2 ) or origin of anal (¢). 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 anual. 
Maldives, Mulaku, 27 fathoms. 
Four specimens, measuring up to 70 mm. in total length. 
This species is very close to H. notacanthus, Blky., which appears from Bleeker’s 
description to have larger scales on the nape and a ray less in the second dorsal fin. 
142. Gobiopterus modestus, sp. un. (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,I9. Anal I9. 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. 
Champsodontide. 
143. Champsodon sechellensis, sp. un. (Plate 31. fig. 2.) 
Depth of body 43 to 43 in the length, length of head 33. Snout as long as or a little 
longer than eye, the diameter of which is 4 to 43 in the length of head and greater than 
the interorbital width. Preemaxillaries with a double notch anteriorly; maxillary 
extending beyond the vertical from posterior edge of eye; distance from tip of snout to 
