18 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



oblongo-quadrangular in form, and in the three posterior pairs having the outer edge 

 regularly serrate. Of the branches the outer one is the shorter, and uniarticulate with the 

 outer edge, and the apex strongly spinose, the inner edge being bordered by a regular row 

 of ciliated setse, two or three of which issue from the apex inside the terminal spines. 

 The inner branch is somewhat more slender and distinctly Particulate, the proximal joint 

 very short, the distal elongate and slightly tapering to the apex, which juts out as a 

 short dentiform projection and, inside the latter, bears a strong spine. Along both edges 

 of this joint a dense series of ciliated setse increasing successively in length toward the 

 tip is affixed, and from the inner side of the proximal joint a linguiform lateral lobe 

 (fig. 6a) arises, armed at the tip with three strongly chitinised hooks (fig. 66). This 

 lobe meets the one on the other side, and by the aid of the above-mentioned hooks both 

 pleopods become thus, as it were, clasped together, so as only to admit of a quite 

 simultaneous movement. In comparing the four pairs of pleopoda with each other, we 

 find some slight differences in their armature and in the relative length of the branches. 

 Thus, in the first pair (fig. 5) the outer edge of the basal part is quite smooth, without any 

 trace of the regular. serrations occurring in the other three pairs. Moreover, the outer 

 branch in this pair is considerably shorter as compared with the inner, and the spines of the 

 outer edge are much more numerous and also arranged in a different manner, being only 

 in the distal part disposed in fascicles, whereas those of the proximal part form a dense 

 comb-like series. In all the other pairs (figs. 6, 7) the spines of the outer branch are 

 arranged in five distinct fascicles, two in each fascicle, besides a small seta, and to the 

 obliquely truncate apex three somewhat stronger spines increasing successively in size are 

 affixed. The last pair of pleopoda (fig. 7) are somewhat smaller than the preceding 

 pairs, and have the inner branch only very slightly longer than the outer, and the spines 

 of the latter branch are also considerably smaller. 



The two pairs of rudimentary caudal limbs (PI. I. fig. 1, cp 1 , cp 2 ; PL II. figs. 8, 9) 

 succeeding the true pleopoda are both of a very simple structure, forming narrow 

 uniarticulate plates, scarcely at all movable. They are setose at the inner edge and 

 armed at the obliquely truncate apex with three spines. Those of the first pair (fig. 8) 

 are somewhat larger and more densely beset with bristles than the posterior pair (fig. 9), 

 with the apical spines successively increasing in length, whereas on the latter pair the 

 middle spine is the longest. 



The caudal rami (PL I. fig. 1, ur ; PL II. fig. 10) have the form of two more or less 

 diverging narrow plates, movably articulated to the end of the last segment, and about 

 as long as the two posterior caudal segments taken together. They are minutely 

 spinous along the outer edge, and along the inner they are provided with a row of 

 short ciliated bristles, besides a series of minute spines. Prom the obliquely truncate 

 apex a dense fascicle of very long and slender setse arises, which, however, were mostly 

 broken in the specimens examined. 



