270 CEYLON PEARL OYSTEB REPORT. 



Melita, Leach, 1813. 



Melita obtusata (Montagu). 



Stations V., XVII., XXIIL, XLIIL, L1IL, LXIV. 

 Females only. 



Melita anisochir (Kroyer). Plate IV., figs. 28. 



Gammarus anisochir, KjrOyee, 1845. 



Melita cotesi, (4ii.es, ' Journ. Asiatic- Soc, Bengal,' 1890, vol. 59, p. 64, V\. ii., fig. 1. 



It is probable that the following species ought also to be referred to M. anisochir, 

 viz., M. valida (Dana), M. setipes (Dana), and M. australis, Haswell. According 

 to Della Valle all these should be referred to Gammarus fresnelii, Audouin and 

 Savigny, 1825. 



This is an abundant species all round ( leylon. 



Description of female : 



Head longer than the first 2 segments of the mesosome, which increase in length 

 progressively. Eyes large, round, red. 



Pleon segments with dorsal teeth on the hind margin, the teeth increasing in size 

 posteriorly; the 1st has 4 subequal teeth, the 2nd and 3rd 6 unequal ; the epimeral 

 hind margin of the last is concave, with marginal setules, the posterior angle produced 

 and acute (fig. 28. pi. & ur.). 



The 1st urus segment has a small central tooth, with a large and a small one below 

 it ; there is a dorsal indentation on the anterior part ; the 2nd segment, which is the 

 shortest of the three, has a small central tooth, with a long spine and 2 minute 

 subdorsal teeth on each side; the 3rd segment has a conical tooth just above the 

 base of the telson. The number and proportions of the teeth, especially in the pleon 

 segments, vary considerably (fig. 28. pi. & ur.). 



Upper antennas nearly as long as the body, the 1st joint twice as wide and two- 

 thirds as long as the 2nd, lower margin convex, with 2 or 3 subcentral and a distal 

 spine ; 2nd joint 4 times as long as the 3rd. 1st joint of the flagellum as long as 

 the next 2. Appendage varying in the number of joints, generally 3 subequal, with 

 a minute terminal, reaching beyond the end of the 3rd joint of the flagellum. 



Lower antennae about two-thirds of the length of the upper and stouter than these, 

 except the 1st joint. 



Mouth organs normal ; the 3rd joint of the mandibular palp is rather longer than 

 the 2nd. 



First gnathopods : side-plates oblong, with rounded angles, wider below, with 

 marginal setules; 1st joint widening distally, as long as the next 3; wrist longer 

 than and fully as wide as the hand, with many short and a few long setae on the 

 hind margin ; hand widely oval, palm undefined, hind margin very convex and setose 

 like the wrist. Dactylus about half as long as the hand (fig. 28. gn. 1 ). 



Second gnathopods larger than the 1st; side-plates oblong, not wider below; 



