July, 1908. The Irish N'a her a list. 129 



THE OCCURRENCE OF PAROMOLA CUVIERI 



IN IRISH WATERS. 



BY J. N. HAI^BERT, M.R.I.A 

 [Platk 5-] 



On the 17th of February last a fine specimen of the crab 

 Parojywla Ctivicri (Risso), was captured alive by Mr. J. 

 O'Driscoll in a small shore pool, about two feet in depth, near 

 the mouth of Courtmacsherry Harbour, on the Cork coast. 

 As it was quite unknown to the captor, he promptly forwarded 

 the specimen to the National Museum, Dublin, where it was 

 received in a perfectly fresh condition. 



The capture of this rare species on our coast proves to be a 

 most interesting occurrence, for although it has recently been 

 found in deep water off the Irish coast, and a Scotch specimen, 

 of which particulars will be given, is preserved in the British 

 Museum, j^et the species seems to be unrecorded from the 

 British and Irish marine area. 



The Cork specimen is a fine male of most striking appear- 

 ance, due largely to the enormous size of the first pair of legs 

 (chelipeds), the spiny and brightly coloured bod}^ and in part 

 also to the presence of numerous marine organisms which 

 have taken up permanent quarters on the general surface of 

 the crab. In the fresh condition the colour of the carapace 

 was a 3''ellowish brown, with irregular reddish markings. The 

 four last pairs of legs, especially the flattened terminal seg- 

 ments, were much suffused with a fine dark red. Even in the 

 dried condition, in which the crab is preserved, sufficient of 

 the original colouring remains to give a good idea of the 

 appearance of the animal during life. In the natural walking 

 position, with flexed legs, as shown in the plate, the creature 

 spans some 29 inches. The following measurements maj- be 

 useful for comparison with future captures of this species : — • 



Length of carapace (including rostral spine), 6-| inches. 



Breadth of carapace, _ . . 



Length of abdomen, 



Length of right cheliped, about, 



Average length of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th legs, 



Length of fifth pair, 



