NO. 1311. SOME NEW DEEP SEA CRUSTACEANS— BENEDICT. 245 



in species having an armature of v^ery small spines, as if chance condi- 

 tions more easily pushed aside the less emphatic character. In old 

 specimens of some species (and perhaps of all) the spines have a tend- 

 ency to become blunted or even aborted, the chelipeds to become 

 elongated, and the lingers to be separated })y a hiatus. The relative 

 lengths of the supraocular spines are as a rule uniform, and, in con- 

 nection with others, furnish a very good character. The size and 

 arrangement of the spines of the carapace and also of the abdomen, if 

 armed, are important. Correlated with other characters, the width 

 of the lines of the carapace, the length and character of the cilia, and 

 the size of the granules are of value in determining species. 



Some of the species in the U. S. National Museum are represented 

 by but few specimens or even single individuals. In other cases the 

 representation is greater. Large numbers of Miiuida iris A. Milne- 

 Edwards, were taken on the tile-fish grounds during the first years 

 work of the U. S. Fish Commission steamer J^ish Ilmvk. So numer- 

 ous in fact was this Muni da that it gave character to the ground. Yet 

 two years later, when the Albatross went over the same ground, the 

 hauls of the beam trawl showed that this species, formerly so abun- 

 dant, was wanting. Three degrees farther south, however, in latitude 

 87° north, numerous specimens were found. 



It will be remembered that the so-called tile-fish {Lojfholatilus 

 chamaeleonticeps Goode and Bean) was found abundantly during the 

 year 1880, and that some time afterwards a vessel passed through 

 miles of water covered with dead fish of this species. It was not again 

 taken for a long time. The Fish (commission steamer AJhatross 

 dredged and set trawl lines on the ground time and again without 

 taking either tile-fish or Munidas; and even farther south, where the 

 Munidas were found in abundance, the fish were not to be had. It is 

 interesting to note that the bottom Crustacea suffered at the same 

 time and probably from the same cause. 



Munida refulgens, M. tenella., and M. pusilla^ species with elongated 

 chelipeds, have, like M. iris^ been found in large numbers, while M. 

 sidfrugosa and 2f. quadrispina^ are species with short prismatic cheli- 

 peds, and are represented in the collection by a smaller but 3 et plentiful 

 number of specimens. Some interesting, though bv no means novel, 

 deductions may be drawn from the character and environment of some 

 of the genera. 



The mass of ova carried by the female Munida contains a very large 

 number of individuals in comparison with some genera of the family 

 living in much deeper water. To count the individuals in the %^^ 

 mass of a Galathea or Munida would be a long task, while to count 

 those of a Munidojpsis^ Galacantha^ or Urojptyckiis would be a very easy 

 matter. Some species of Uroptychus live in moderate depths that 

 furnish innumerable hiding places. Here there is abundant protection 



