1855.] 403 



tice of naturalists. Last summer our associate Mr. Ashmead brought some 

 from Beesley's Point, N. J., and I cannot find any description agreeing with it. All 

 the other species in the books except one, appear to have been brought from 

 tropical countries. I have added a detailed description of the G. pugilator or 

 common species which is said to be found along our whole line of coast, in order 

 that a comparison may be made between the two. This I have of course placed 

 first. 



Gelasimus pugilator, Bgsc. Carapace smooth, shining, in front sinuous and 

 three-lobed, the middle lobe tbe largest, bent down, the lateral lobes but slightly 

 prominent likewise bent down ; margined, the lateral margins ciliate; anterior 

 exterior angles right. Back impressed as it were with the letter H, a small de- 

 pressed spot generally paler colored about one fourth of the distance from the 

 outer edge of the fore part on each side. Lower eye-lid finely serrate, cheeks 

 and feet except the chelae hairy. Tail strongly ciliate. Tarsi sharp, slightly 

 curved. Color dark brownish olive, all the feet lighter colored, chelae nearly 

 white. 



Male. With either the right or left chela very large, inflated, margined, the 

 inner margin of the palm bifurcate near the extremity. Palm and carpus granu- 

 late ; brachium with short irregular rows of granules, the immoveable finger 

 straight deeply grooved from the point to near the centre, with a triple row of 

 small teeth, and one large one near the middle, the moveable finger curved, 

 toothed like the moveable one, with sometimes three larger teeth, and slightly 

 costate : small chela smooth the fingers nearly straight. 



Length -65; breadth anteriorly 1 iuch, posteriorly '4. Large chela 1*7, 

 small 4. 



This species which is found on the salt marshes and the edges of creeks of the 

 sea shore in innumerable quantities, was first described by Bosc in his Histoire 

 Naturelle des Crustacee3, vol. vi. page 96, and afterwards by Say, in the Jour- 

 nal of our Society vol. i. page 71. From its being so common and so well 

 known I omit saying anything on its manners. It was formerly considered 

 the same as the G. vocans of Brazil or Amboyna. Whether it is so or not, 

 remains yet to be determined, the descriptions of the South American or Indian 

 animal which are to be found in the books being so impeifect, that it is impos- 

 sible to decide the question. 



G. 3iim\x. Carapace very finely granulate with a number of small tuber- 

 cles near the anterior exterior angles, front as in the former species only the 

 lateral lobes are much wider and more bent down ; margined, the margin very 

 finely serrate and ciliate on the sides : anterior exterior angle rounded. Back 

 impressed with the letter H, with an oblique stria running from the lateral lobe 

 of the front of the carapace on each side to the upright arms of the impressed 

 letter. Both the eye-lids are bluntly serrate. Cheeks and feet as in G. pugi- 

 lator, except the latter are paler colored, as is the tail likewise. 



Male'. With the right or left chela very large, inflated, outwardly scarcely 

 margined, inwardly margined as in the former species, but the bifurcation com- 

 mences lower down. Palm and carpus covered with tubercles, those on the in- 

 terior edge of the latter forming a kind of crest. Immoveable finger straight 

 with a double row of blunt teeth, which near the point are separated by an ex- 

 cavation for the reception of the point of the moveable finger, the middle is fur- 

 nished with a single larger tooth. The moveable finger is very much curved 

 with a triple row of blunt teeth, three of which behind the middle and two be- 

 fore it are larger; at each of the joints there are one or two red spots, brachium 

 with short irregular rows of small tubercles: tail ciliate speckled with black ; 

 small chela, and feet like those of G. pugilator. 



Female chelae like the small one of the male. 



Length 1 inch ; breadth anteriorly 1-5; posteriorly -65. Large chela 2 8 ; 

 small, -6. 



