SCYLLARTTS 8CULPTUS, LATR. — -VTHITELEGGE. 155 



NOTE ON SCYLLARUS SCULPTUS, LATREILLE 



By Thomas Whitelegge, Zoologist. 



(Plate xxix.) 



The history of this beautiful, rare, and well-marked species of 

 Scyllarus may be briefly given, as follows : — 



It was figured by Latreille* with a bare name, which occurs on 

 page 5, in the explanation of the plate of the undermentioned 

 work. At a later datef the species is again referred to, the 

 reference consisting of a line or two, stating that the tigure on 

 P. cccxx., represents Scyllarus sculptus. The next notice, as far 

 as I can ascertain, is by M. Milne Edwards, J who gives a short 

 detailed description, the letters CM., placed at the end, signifying 

 that the specimen was in the Paris JNIuseum, but without data. 

 I have failed to find any later mention of this highly interesting 

 form, and it seems probable that the type until recently was the 

 only specimen known. 



In September, 1892, the writer and several other members of 

 the JNIuseum Stafi", paid a visit to Port Stephens, and during the 

 trip two examples were obtained from Mr. Jackson, one of the 

 local residents. In October of the same year, the late Mr. T. 

 Mulhall presented a specimen which was stated to have been 

 obtained in Port Jackson. Since that date two other examples 

 have been received, one from Port Jackson, and the other collected 

 at Newcastle by Mr. J. Mitchell, who kindly presented it to the 

 Trustees. 



The first specimens were readily identified by the figure, with 

 which they agree in most of the important characters. There are 

 only two points of diflference. The teeth forming the crenulate 

 margin of the fifth joint of the second antenna are smaller and 

 more numerous than represented in the figure; and the alternating 

 bands of darker and lighter colour, indicated on the legs, are much 

 less distinct, or wanting, in our examples. Notwithstanding these 

 differences, I think that our specimens are identical with the 

 individual figured, which was probably collected at or near Port 

 Jackson by some of the early voyagers. 



* Latreille — Encyclopedie Methodique (atlas), pt. 24, 1818, pi. cccxx., 

 fig. 2. 



t Latreille — Encyclopedie Methodique (text), x., 1825, p. 416. 

 J Milne Edwards— Hist. Nat. Crust., ii., 1837, p. 283. 



