Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Crustacea. 



joint of the last four pairs of legs, given as a characteristic 

 difference of P. Edwardsi from P. Lalandi, I find, although 

 usually absent in our species, it is sometimes present, and some- 

 times present on some of the legs and absent on others of the 

 same individual, as represented on Figs. 3 and 3a of our Plate 

 150, in which the two last pairs of legs have them, and those 

 in front have not. This is, therefore, obviously not a constant 

 character, and a few specimens show a third small spine on the 

 outer edge of the same part. All the spines are smaller, propor- 

 tionally, in small specimens, and that on the inner side of the 

 penultimate joint of the anterior pair of legs may occasionally 

 disappear in so small an example (9*5 in.) as that described 

 by Capt. Hutton. Our figure, Plate 149, fig. lc, shows how 

 small it is in a specimen a foot long, and our figure Plate 150, 

 fig. 6, shows the much greater development of the spines at the 

 more nearly adult size of 18 in. in total length. This being so, 

 I think it might be so small in a 9 inch specimen as to almost 

 warrant the statement that it was absent, and raises a doubt 

 on this distinctive character when individuals of very different 

 sizes are compared. 



I suggest the trivial name of Southern Rock Lobster for this 

 species, which, abounding in Victoria, Tasmania, and New Zealand, 

 as well as the Cape of Good Hope, (and St. Paul's, according to 

 Heller,) does not appear to have been noticed as far north as 

 Sydney, where it is replaced by a totally different species, the 

 Common Sydney Crawfish P. Hihgelli, of which I have one speci- 

 men from our coast and one from Tasmania, as excessively rare 

 occurrences as stragglers. 



Very abundant in pools on the rocky coasts of Victoria, and is 

 the common Melbourne Crayfish of the fishmongers. 



Explanation of Figures. 



Plate 149. — Fig. 1, immature specimen, half the natural size, viewed from above. Fig. la, 

 half of third abdominal segment, natural size, showing the flattened, scale-like tuberculation, with 

 two serratures behind the large spine on posterior edge of pleura. Fig. 1 b, ordinary shape of 

 upward-arched rostrum, natural size. Fig. \c, anterior leg with moderately developed spines on 

 inner edge of second, third, and penultimate joints, half the natural size. Fig. Id, jaw-foot, half 

 the natural size. Fig. 2, underside of female, one-quarter the natural size, showing the trigonal 

 sternum. Fig. la, appendage of second abdominal segment of female, showing the two large 

 laminae, natural size. Fig. 26, appendage of third abdominal segment, with one, large, mem- 

 branous lamina, natural size. 



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