REPOKT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 69 



"Characters of the Megalops (PL VII, Fig. 37) and Early Young 

 Stages. 



"The megalops can be readily distinguished from the Megalops of 

 other species. It has to the eye a dirty-greenish or olive colouration. 

 Microscopic examination shows the presence of a large black chroma- 

 tophore on the dorsum, and also that there is no dorsal spine on the 

 carapace. The intensity of the pigment varies. 



"The abdomen projects in a line with the cephalo-thorax; it has 

 five pairs of functional pleopods. 



"The First Young stage has none of the characters of the Megalops. 

 The general form of the carapace and pereiopods has changed towards 

 the adult condition; the lateral teeth of the carapace are now present, 

 though not fully developed. 



"The carapace is longer than it is broad. 



"The abdomen is tucked in under the thorax; the five pairs of 

 pleopods are present but in a degenerate condition." 



(Tribe) Catometopa. 



The Catometo pons orGrapsoid crabs have the cara- 

 pace broad anteriorly, and often nearly quadrilateral. The anterior 

 margin may be truncate or arcuate, but is never rostrate. The front 

 is bent downwards. The epistome is short. From this family we 

 have the familiar "fiddler crabs," the "oyster crab," and other 

 familiar forms. These represent three families, Ocypodidse, 

 Grapsida3, and Pinnotheridse. 



(Family) OCYPODID^ Leach. 



The carapace is hard and firm, moderately convex or depressed. 

 The third maxillipeds have the fifth joint articulated at the front 

 inner angle of the fourth. The front is of moderate width or narrow. 

 The eyestalks are often greatly elongate. Two genera have been 

 found in Narragansett Bay, c y p o d e and U c a . 



