REPORT ON THE CRUSTACEA MACRURA. :!7 



pair of pereiopoda small, chelate, symmetrical, equal ; posterior pair terminating in a 



small styliform daetylos. First somite of the pleon shorter than the second and 

 following. External branch of the rhipidura not longer than the inner. 



A mastigobranchia present on all the pereiopoda except the posterior pair, and 

 a podobranchia is attached to four. 



This family contains the following genera: — Axius, Paraxius, Eiconaxius, of 

 the first of which no specimen is in this collection. 



Geographical Distribution. — Axius has been taken only on the southern coast of 

 England ; Paraxius off Celebes Island ; and Eiconaxius south of Celebes, and near the 

 Krrmadec Islands in the West Pacific. 



Paraxius, u. gen. 



Characters generally resembling Axius, but distinguished by having the first somite 

 of the pleon, especially in the extent of the lateral walls, much smaller than the second. 



The eyes are fixed on broad bands or conical peduncles. The second pair of antenna; 

 has neither scaphocerite nor stylocerite attached to the peduncle. The hands of the 

 first pah' of pereiopoda are broader at the dactyloid articulation than at the carpal. 

 Telson quadrate. 



Paraxius alt us, n. sp. (PI. V. fig. 1, d-z). 



Lateral walls of the carapace deep ; rostrum pointed, flattened dorsally ; margins 

 serrate. Second pair of gnathopoda with the daetylos broad and compressed, all 

 the joints subequal in length. First pair of pereiopoda having the right propodos large, 

 slightly narrower at the carpal than at the dactyloid joint ; pollex thick at the base, 

 sharp, pointed, curved, and smooth ; a strong point or tooth at the upper distal 

 angle of the propodos ; daetylos robust, curved, pointed, smooth. Second pair of pereio- 

 poda having the hand long, ovate ; daetylos broad, thick, and obtusely pointed, of the 

 same shape as the pollex. 



Length, 25 mm. (1 inch). 



Habitat.— Station 218, north of Papua, March 1, 1875; lat. 2° 33' S., long. 

 144° 4' E. ; depth, 1070 fathoms ; bottom, blue mud ; bottom temperature, 36°'4. 



Carapace about one-third the length of the animal. Compressed laterally, rather 

 more anteriorly than posteriorly. Lateral walls deep, but not produced anteriorly in 

 advance of the dorsal frontal margin, or posteriorly much behind the posterior dorsal 

 margin. Rostrum flat, triangular, with an acute apex ; the margins serrate, with three 

 or four upwardly-curved teeth on each side. 



First somite of the pleon short ; having small coxal plates elevated into a lobe 



