PANTOPODA. L83 



males of P. mollis, the femur both in its form and armature (fig. 3 a) shows some 

 approach to what we find in the European species of Phoxichilus. The young 

 individuals, too, arc markedly spinose as compared with the aduhs. 



The colour of these Ceylon specimens is a pale yellowish-green, the food-canal 

 showing through the semi-transparent body in bluish-green streaks. The male carries 

 the eggs in a large flat cake-like mass of somewhat irregular form (fig. 3). 



Family: NYMl'HONID.E. 

 Nyinphon, Fa Bit. 



Nyinphon longicaudatuin, n, sp. Plate, figs. 8-14. 



Length, 6 millims. to 8 millims. Head segment nearly as long as the three 

 thoracic segments taken together, neck slender and elongate. Proboscis swollen 

 centrally and constricted behind mouth (fig. 8). Eye eminence with low conical 

 apex (fig. 9). Chelifori elongate; scape nearly as long as proboscis; hand rather 

 longer than scape, with slender, tapering, evenly curved fingers (figs. 8, 10). Palp 

 half as long as body; relative length of its segments as 2 : 8 : 'J : 10 : 6. False leg 

 as long as body ; relative length of its segments as 2 : 4 : 4 : 20 : 24 : 10 : 6 : 4 : 4 : 3 ; 

 denticulate spines with a short sharp basal point, and six to eight sinuous serrations 

 on each side (figs. 11, 12, 13). Legs slender and elongate, spines present only at the 

 tip of the second tibial segment; propodus four times as long as tarsus; principal 

 claw slender, slightly longer than tarsus ; auxiliary claws four-fifths as long as 

 principal claw (fig. 14). Abdomen very elongate, slender and club-shaped (fig. 8); 

 as long as the first two thoracic segments together. Colour of body and legs yellow, 

 with a variable amount of dark pigment which is specially well developed along two 

 lateral longitudinal lines on the thoracic segments. 



Habitat : Gulf of Manaar, coral reefs and pearl banks, February and March, 1902. 

 South of Manaar Island (Station LIV., 8 to 9 fathoms), March 8th, 1902. West of 

 Periya Paar (Station LXL, 12 fathoms), March 12th, 1902. 



This Nyinphon is markedly distinguished from any species of the genus known to 

 me by the elongate abdomen, the proportion of the tarsus to the propodus, and the 

 distinct linear pattern on the trunk segments due to the dark pigment. The almost 

 complete absence of spines on the body and legs which are clothed only with a few 

 scattered, minute hairs is another striking character. 



As usual in this genus, there is no marked difference between the sexes. In the 

 femalejdie proboscis and neck are relatively shorter than in the male. 



It is of interest to note that both these species are remarkably poor in spiny or 

 hairy armature or clothing as compared with other members of their genera: Possibly 

 those naturalists who have had the good fortune to observe the animals amid their 

 natural surroundings may be able to suggest some explanation of this modification. 



