136 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



as in the lasb species, but the spines are in some specimens at least more bluntly 

 tuberculate ; the branchial area has one or two small spines in front near its junction 

 with the cardiac area, and some of the ordinary spinules of the carapace in this vicinity 

 are slightly enlarged. The lateral border of the carapace bears a row of spinules 

 continued back almost to the posterior margin, and of which the first eight or nine 

 are of moderate size, the first or postorbital greatly exceeds all the others ; the posterior 

 border is distinctly raised l^ut with the exception of a very minute median spinule is 

 unarmed. 



The chelipedes l^ear a general resemblance to those of Miinida granulata, but the 

 joints are covered with distinct overlapping scales, the margins of which are ciliated. 

 The fingers are slender and straight in the female, agreeing closely with those of Munida 

 scahra. The ambulatory limbs are slender, with the meral, carpal, and propodal joints 

 subsquamose, and the first of these with both margins spiny, the spines being more 

 strongly developed anteriorly ; the dactyli are moderately curved, and more slender than 

 in either of the preceding species. 



The eyes are flattened, with the cornese overhung by long iridescent " lashes." The 

 antennal spine is long and pubescent as in the last species, projecting considerably 

 beyond the eyes ; the anterior prolongation of the second joint is bent forwards but does 

 not exceed the joint itself in length. The ischium and merus of the external maxillipedes 

 are distinctly squamose externally, and armed as in Munida scahra. 



The second, third, and fourth abdominal segments are armed as in the two preceding 

 species. The fifth and sixth segments agree as to the markings on their dorsal surface 

 with Munida scahra. 



This species is distinguished from Mtmida scahra, to which it is in many respects 

 closely related, by its smaller size, the less upturned rostrum, the presence of scales on 

 the gastric area, and the absence of a posterior median spine from this region, the rudi- 

 mentary state of the spinules on the posterior margin of the carapace, and the more 

 slender dactyli of the ambulatory limbs. 



Breadth of carapace (of an adult female) 9 mm., length of body 24 mm., of carapace 

 9 mm., of rostrutn'2'3 mm., of chelipede 41 mm., of chela 17 mm., of first ambulatory leg 

 30 mm. 



Hahitat. — Station 219, north of Papua; depth, 150 fathoms; bottom, coral mud. 

 Three adult female specimens, one with ova. 



The three preceding species agree with one another in the possession of certain some- 

 what abnormal features, such, for instance, as the flattened ciliated eyes, the short 

 acuminate rostrum, the replacement of the striae on the carapace by short rows of 

 granules or spinules, and the great elongation of the antennal spines. Not one of these 

 characters is, however, peculiar to the three species in question. 



