2^8 Mr. W. Thompson on the Crustacea of Ireland, 



fast bay by Dr. J. L. Drummond. Mr. R. Ball once found this spe- 

 cies cast ashore on the Dublin coast after a great storm ; and in his 

 collection are fine specimens from Roundstone, on the western coast. 

 Capt. Beechey, R.N., brought up a crab of this species alive in the 

 dredge from a depth of 50 fathoms off the Mull of Galloway. See 

 p. 21 of the present volume. 



Xanthofloridus, Leach, Mai. pi. 11 ; Edw. Crust, t. i. p. 394 ; Desm. 

 pi. 8. f. 2. 

 Seems to be a local species. It is recorded as Irish in Mr. J. V. 

 Thompson's catalogue. In the Ordnance collection are specimens 

 from three localities on the Antrim coast — Carnlough, Larne and 

 Carrickfergus ; and in Mr. R. Ball's cabinet there is an example 

 from Dublin bay. In July 1840, this species was found commonly 

 by Mr. E. Forbes and myself under stones between tide-marks at 

 Lahinch, county Clare : — the entire claws of these specimens (all 

 under half adult size) are of a pale brown colour, but very different 

 in shade from any part of the body of the animal : in Leach's ' Ma- 

 lacostraca' the claws are described and figured as black, but a va- 

 riety stated to be rare is said to have " the tops of the claws of the 

 same colour with the other parts of the animal." 



XantJio rivulosus, Risso. Edw. Crust, t. i. p. 394. 



A fine example of a crab so named, and which is an addition to 

 the British fauna, is in the Ordnance collection — it was taken at 

 Portrush, county of Antrim, in July 1839. Capt. Portlock informs 

 me that having been at once identified as the X. rivulosus, more spe- 

 cimens were assiduously sought for in the locality, but in vain. I 

 fully agree with him in considering it the X. rivulosus as described 

 by M. Edwards. It seems to me a well-marked species. It is said 

 to inhabit the Mediterranean and the western coast of France. 



Cancer pagurus, Leach, Mai. pi. 10 ; Penn. vol. iv. p. 7. pi. 3 ; Desm. 



p. 103. pi. 8. f. 1. 

 Platycarcinus \Latr.'] pagurus, Edw. Crust, t. i. p. 413. 



This, the common edible crab, is taken on all quarters of the Irish 

 coast, and is held in good estimation for the table. It is the only 

 species brought on sale to Belfast market. In January 1836, a spe- 

 cimen weighing 9|lbs. was taken in Strangford lough, and in Aug. 

 1841, one of 9 lbs. was obtained in Belfast bay: these were of ex- 

 traordinary magnitude for the north of Ireland to produce, although 

 not larger than what are commonly to be seen in the London market. 

 M. Edwards mentions this species as sometimes exceeding 5 lbs. in 

 weight on the coast of France, t. i. p. 414. The ordinary method 

 of taking these crabs on the coast of Ireland is the same as that re- 

 sorted to in England — " wicker-baskets in the form of a wire mouse- 

 trap." But Mr. Hyndman has seen them sought after and captured 

 at Donaghadee by persons thrusting a piece of iron hooked at the 

 end into the crevices of rocks, the ordinary retreat of the crabs at 

 low-water: a similar practice, according to Mr. Ball, is pursued 

 in the south. In spring and summer they are considered to be 



