1 1 1 



closely related to Ncphropsis Stezoarti, but at once distinguished from this and other species 

 by the prominent spine at the base of the telson, occurs on the west coast of Mexico. 



Besides Xephropsis atlantica, iive species are found in the Indopacific. Xcpliropsis 

 Stewarti W.-Mas. and Xcpliropsis cnsirostris Alcock occur in the Arabian Sea, the Ba) - of 

 Bengal and the Andaman Sea: both forms have been taken by the "Siboga", the former off 

 the Kei-islands, the latter in the Bali Sea. Xcpliropsis Carpcnteri W -Mas. is closely allied, 

 inhabits the Bav of Bengal, but is also recorded from Jodomi, Japan. Xcpliropsis Sii/imi Sp. Bate 

 occurs at the Aru Islands, but also in the Arabian Sea and a young female was taken by the 

 "Siboga" in the Strait of Makassar. Xcpliropsis malhaensis Borr., finally, closely related to 

 Xcpliropsis atlantica, was dredged off Saya de Malha in the Indian Ocean. 



The species of Xcpliropsis are all inhabitants of deep water, not exceeding, however, 

 iooo fathoms, except Nephropsis Sii/imi which was taken by the "Siboga" at the great depth 

 of 2029 m., i. e. about 1 100 fathoms, the greatest depth on record of the species of this genus. 

 X r ephropsis Szi/iini is therefore a truly abyssal species: it was captured by the "Challenger" 

 at a depth of 800 fathoms, while, according to Dr. Alcock, it is found in the Arabian Sea 

 in water of S65 to 947 fathoms. Xephropsis atlantica and Xcpliropsis cnsirostris occur in the 

 Arabian Sea respectively at 636 — 740 and 636 fathoms, but the three other Indian species are 

 found in shallower water, at depths varying between 180 and 465 fathoms. Xephropsis occi- 

 dentalis was dredged between 660 and 676 fathoms, Xcpliropsis rosca at 690 fathoms, but 

 Xcpliropsis Agassizii which was captured on the coast of Florida in water of 830 fathoms, 

 was also dredged by the U. S. Fish Commission, on the South Coast of New England, at 

 100, 120 and 126 fathoms. 



Key to the indopacific species of the genus Xcpliropsis W.-Mas. 1 ). 



a 1 The exopodite of the tail-fan is transversely fissured. 



b x Rostrum with lateral spines: no distinct spines behind the cervical 



groove. 



(j Abdominal terga without any tracé of a median carina; no second 



pair of small spines behind the rostrum. 



d x Body covered with a close short fur ; no two rows of granules 



converoing; from iust before the median eastric tubercle towards 



the spines at the base of the rostrum Stewarti W.-Mas. 



(1, No fur on the body ; two rows of granules start just before 

 the median gastric tubercle on each side and converge towards 



the spines at the base of the rostrum malhaensis Borr. 



(L. A. BORRADAILE, Trans. Linnean Soc. London, 2 n d Ser. Zoology, Vol. XIII, 

 Part 2, 1910, p. 262). 



C-, Abdominal terea faintlv carinated in the middle line. 



1) This key is partly taken from that which was given by Dr. Alcock in his work of 1901. 



