VOL. XI, PP. 181-183 JULY 1, 1897 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF 

 SPH^ROMID^E FROM ALASKAN WATERS.* 



BY HARRIET RICHARDSON. 



The dredgings made by the U. S. Fish Commission Steamer 

 'Albatross' off the Alaskan coast in the years 1888-1894 contain 

 a number of specimens of Sphgeromidas which evidently belong 

 to a genus hitherto undescribed. Although it is impossible to 

 refer these specimens to the genus Ancinus of Milne Edwards, 

 yet they are more closely related to that genus than to any other. 

 They resemble Ancinus in the possession of subchelate hands 

 terminating the first and second pairs of gnathopods. 



Tecticeps gen. nov. 



Body oval and somewhat flattened. 



Head subquadrangular, broader anteriorly than posteriorly, with its 

 anterior and lateral margins produced, concealing 

 the antennae. 



The antennae, which are entirely hidden, extend 

 backward and lie under the epimeral plates at the 

 sides of the thorax. 



The first and second pairs of legs are subchelate ; 

 the first pair terminate in a large hand and finger, 

 bearing a small hook ; the second pair terminate in 

 a more irregularly shaped hand. All the other legs 

 are simple in structure. 



The terminal segment of the abdomen is tri 

 angular and entire and is pointed at its extremity. 

 The uropoda are double-branched and lateral, and 

 resemble closely those of the genus Sphteroma. 



* Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Insti 

 tution. 



43 BIOL. Soc. WASH., Voi,. XI, 1897 (181) 



FIG. 9. Tecticeps alas- 

 censis. X 2%. 



