24 t A HISTORY OF RECENT CRUSTACEA 



majority of them is very far down in the waters, as other- 

 wise they might just as well have been discovered earlier. 

 Acanthephyra sica, Spence Bate, is as remarkable as any 

 of the species for its range, the specimens taken by the 

 Challenger coming from depths that varied between half a 

 mile and over three miles, and from places so distant as 

 New Zealand and Japan, Bermudas and the Falkland 

 Islands. Acanthephyra pellucida, A. Milne-Edwards, is of 

 a beautiful rose-colour in daylight and abundantly lumi- 

 nous in the dark. 



Ephyrina, S. I. Smith, 1885, is distinguished from. 

 Acanthephyra by the unusual dilatation of the third and 

 fourth joints of the last trunk-legs. The type Ephyrina 

 Benedict^ Smith, was taken by the Albatross. 



Oplophorus, Milne-Edwards, 1837, if the want of an 

 aspirate be forgiven, is well named ' the bearer of heavy 

 arms.' Especially this applies to the long and strong 

 scale on the second antennas, which tapers to a sharp 

 point, and is described as capable of being rigidly locked 

 in position and unfixed at will. It is judged that this 

 weapon must be capable of inflicting a deep wound, which 

 the serrate outer margin of the scale would render all the 

 more dangerous. Spence Bate argues that the animal's 

 power of progression must be great, for * the teeth upon 

 the dorsal surface of the pleon can be tightly compressed 

 against the body ; the appendages not utilised are capable 

 of being drawn close to the animal, and its narrow form, 

 and polished sides seem fitted to enable it to shoot through 

 the water.' With the rostrum and outstretched antennal 

 scales it would, he thinks, be capable of a formidable 

 attack on animals larger than itself, nor, when at rest, 

 with these same weapons extended forwards and outwards, 

 could it be easily approached, especially as the dorsal 

 spines on the pleon would then be in a posture of defence 

 in the rear, and 011 the flanks its strong integument sup- 

 ports and is defended by spines on the carapace and first 

 pleon-segment. In the account of Oplophorus typus, 

 Milne-Edwards, Spence Bate says : ' The most remarkable 

 feature of the carapace is a lateral process on the posterior 



