H*
280 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA.
median spines, as in Stimpson’s description), but the median spine is
itself arcuated and verj- distinctly denticulated on the lateral margins
as well as on the dorsal surface, and there are two spines on
the front of the branchial regions. Nevertheless a sufficient series of
specimens might perhaps hereafter show the Australian to be a mere
variety of tho Japanese form.
In the absence of the supraocular spines these species resemble
the American genus (or snbgenns) Galathocles, A. Al.-Edwards*, but
the corneæ of the eyes are considerably dilated, and the dactyli of
the ambulatory legs (in AI. spinulifera) are not strongly spinulose.
Of all the numerous American species of Alimida described by A.
M.-Edwards {t. c. pp. 4 7-52) the nearest allies to AI. spinulifera are
apparently AI. iris and AI. irasa, from which AI. sqoinulifera is distinguished
by having the first tivo segments of the postahdomen
armed with several spinules &c.
24. Mastigochirus quadrilobatus, Aliers.
Seven specimens were collected in Prince of Wales Channel,
5 -7 fms. (No. 150), which scarcely differ from the type from the
Philippines in tho Eritish-Museum collection except in haidng the
median frontal lobes generally somewhat more acute. A careful
comparison of these specimens with the (previously) unique dried
type example shows that the number of joints in the terminal fla-
gelliform portion of the anterior limbs (which are imperfectly seen
on account of the hairs with which they are thickly clothed) was
understated in the original description ; instead of being ten or
twelve, they are usually twice as numerous.
MACEUEA.
1. Gehia carinicauda, Stimpson.
Two females are in the collection from the beach a t Thursday
Island (No. 167). Another in the British Alusenm was collected
by Mr. MacEarlane on the shores of one of the islands in Torres
Straits. Stimpson’s types were from Hong Kong. These specimens
agree^ very well with Stimpson’s description, except th at the upper
margins of the dactyli of the anterior legs can scarcely be described
as carinated. The spinules of the front are almost completely
concealed by the pubescence, but are distinctly visible in a
lateral view.
In a smaller specimen, also a female and from the same locality,
the spinules mentioned by Stimpson as existing above the genital
apertures in the third pair of legs (and which are very distinct in
the larger examples in the ‘ Alert ’ collection) are not developed.
♦ Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. viii. p. 53 (1880).
I
I u
i'll
CRUSTACEA. 281
G. carinicauda is nearly allied to, and may prove to be identical
with, G. hirtifrons, AVhite, which Mr. Haswell (Cat. p. 164) mentions
as commonly occurring in sponges at Port Jackson ; hut in the
latter species tho spine of the lower margin of the hand (which exists
in adult examples of G. carinicauda) is absent. I may add th at in
the type specimen of 0 . hirtifrons the bases of the second, as well as
^ of the third, pair of legs bear a spinule.
2 . Gebiopsis darwinii. ( P l a t e X X X II. fig. A.)
The carapace is vertically deep and laterally compressed (as in
Gebiopsis nitidus, A. AI.-Edw.) ; its sides converge very slightly to
the front, which has four median spines on its anterior margin, arranged
nearly in a semicircle, and are equidistant, and behind this
the lateral margins are denticulated. The carapace is densely
pubescent above in front, and its dorsal surface is bordered anteriorly
by a suture, which is continued backward nearly as far as the cervical
suture, which is deep and well defined. Tlae segments of the
postahdomen are nearly smooth, but clothed with a few hairs ; the
terminal segment slightly transverse, with the posterior margin
straight and unarmed. The eyes, which have very short and thick
peduncles, are well nigh concealed beneath the front in a dorsal view.
The antennules are short, the peduncles scarcely reaching beyond
the front, and each bearing two subequal flagella. The antennæ are
little longer than the carapace ; the slender peduncles reach somewhat
beyond the front ; the penultimate and terminal joints are
short, and clothed above with long hairs ; the flagella of the antennæ
terminate in a pencil of hairs, aud the several joints also bear
a few setæ. The chelipedes are subequal and moderately robust ;
the merus-joints unarmed aud somewhat hairy ; the hairs longest
aud most abundant along the inferior margins ; the wrists are short,
thinly clothed with hair, and having a few minute spinules along
their upper margins, of which the anterior one is the most prominent
; the palms longer than broad, somewhat turgid, rounded above
and below, and thinly clothed with hair, which is arranged iu distan
t longitudinal lines ; the fingers are hairy, much shorter than the
palms, thickened at base, dentated on their inner margins, ivith their
apices’ slightly crossed when closed, the upper much curved. The
second legs have the under margins of the merus-joints densely
fringed with hair, and the last three joints are also hairy ; the
penultimate joint longer than tho preceding, moderately dilated and
compressed ; dactjdi shorter than tho preceding joint ; the third legs
are similar to the second, but the merus is less hairy below, and the
propus is shorter ; the fourth and fifth legs are much shorter and
slenderer than the foregoing, and the last three joints are more or
less hairy, the hairs thickest along the inferior margins of the pro-
piis. The rami of the uropoda are broad, with the distal margins
straight ; they about reach to the distal end of the terminal segment
of the postahdomen. Colour (in spirit) yellowish white. _ The
length of the largest specimen does not exceed 9 lines (19 millim.).
I
i
t «
: I I
j .