igoS. Hai^berT. — Paroniola Ciivieri in Irish Waters. 131 



recorded^ depth appears to be that observed during the voyage 

 of the " Talisman " (1883), when it was captured in 640 

 metres (about 350 fathoms). 



The " Fisheries " specimens are much smaller than the Cork 

 individual; the spines and hairs on the carapace are compara- 

 tivel}' more developed and closer together, causing the crabs 

 to have a more spin}' appearance. 



Dr. W. T. Caiman has kindly supplied some particulars of 

 a Scotch specimen which has been preserved for many 3^ears 

 in the British Museum collection. The only definite infor- 

 mation to be obtained concerning this specimen is a scrap of 

 paper torn from a letter, unsigned and undated, stating that, 

 "The crab shell was found on the shore of Ensay, a farm on 

 the west coast of Mull, belonging to Lord Compton." It con- 

 sists of a detached carapace, six inches in length, and the two 

 chelipeds. From the size of the latter Dr. Caiman says it is 

 no doubt a male. Possibl}' this occurrence has been regarded 

 as somewhat insufficient for definitely including the species in 

 the Scotch fauna. In view of the recent captures, however, it 

 is highly probable that the crab will eventually be found in 

 deep water off the western coast of Scotland. 



The family Homolidae contains comparatively few species, 

 two forms only occurring in European seas ; these are, Homola 

 barbata (Fabr.), and Paromola Cuvieri (Risso)." The first is 

 the commoner form, occurring at both sides of the North 

 Atlantic, the Azores, and in the Mediterranean, often at con- 

 siderable depths. Paromola Cuvieri has been most frequentl}" 

 met with in the western parts of the Mediterranean, where it 

 has been recorded from various places off the coasts of France, 

 Italy and Sicily, also, according to Lucas, on the North African 

 coast. " Cette belle et rare espece a ete prise une seule fois 

 par les pecheurs dans la rade d' Alger, et m'a ete donnee 



^ A. M. Edwards and Bouvier, Travailleur et TaHsman, Crust. Decap,, 

 pt. I, p. 10. 



= Previous to 1891 this species was included in the genus Homola. In 

 that year Wood Mason proposed and defined the genus Paromola for its 

 reception {Ann. Mag. Nat. Hisl.., Ser. 6, vii., p. 267). In a recent mono- 

 graph, Mihie-Rdwards and Bouvier discuss the generic characters and 

 suggest others. (Travailleur et Talisman, Crust. Decap.). 



The synonymy is briefly as follows : — Hippocarcinus hispdiis, Aldrov. 

 Dorippe Cuvieri^ Risso. Homola Cuvieri, Risso (et auct.). Paromola Cuvieri, 

 Wood Mason. 



A 2 



