MELITA PROXIMA. 345 



M. obtusata, but they are furnished with a few fasciculi 

 of hairs instead of the short fur upon the inferior 

 margin in that species. The second pair of legs like- 

 wise bear a close resemblance to those of the preceding 

 species, but the hand has a more irregularly tuber- 

 culated palm : the finger is scimitar-shaped. The three 

 posterior pairs of walking legs have the posterior 

 margins of the thighs serrated ; a small hair (microscopic) 

 arising immediately below each little denticle. The 

 posterior pair of caudal appendages are very long ; the 

 shorter branch is almost rudimentary. 



This species may be readily mistaken for M. obtusata 

 (hence the specific name), of which, indeed, we are 

 sometimes inclined to think that it may prove to be a 

 variety : an examination of a greater number of in- 

 dividuals is, however, necessary to determine this point. 



Our specimen was taken in Plymouth Sound. We 

 have also received it from our excellent correspondent 

 Mr. Edward, who took it off Banff. 



