THE CANCROID CRABS OF AMERICA 527 



behind the orbit is armed with three triangular, spine-tipped, equal 

 teeth of moderate size. Subhepatic tooth distinct. 



Chelipeds short, stout; carpus covered above with granulated 

 tubercles which are confluent exteriorly, forming transverse ridges; 

 hand covered above and outwardly with small but prominent mam- 

 millary tubercles, having their apices pointing forward and arranged 

 largely in longitudinal lines on the outer surface. Legs pubescent 

 and hairy, carpal and propodal articles armed with minute spines or 

 spiniform granules above. 



Color. — Above sand filled gray pile, granules and knobs are ochra- 

 ceous rufous + madder brown; inner sides of meral joints of legs and 

 chelipeds smooth and much white. Whitish spots. (Schmitt, Cat. 

 No. 61110.) Forma bermudensis: Yellowish or salmon; fingers black 

 (Verrill). Fingers dark burnt umber with whitish apices; hands pink 

 flesh color on inside and between articulation of fingers on outside 

 (Schmitt) . 



Variation. — The species is variable especially as to the number and 

 prominence of the areolets on the carapace. The typical form is not 

 uncommon on the west coast of Florida. Some of the extremes are 

 worthy of distinct names. In forma bermudensis the areolets are 

 fewer and lower than in typical agassizii, those of the protogastric 

 and epibranchial regions are inconspicuous. Pubescence more wide- 

 spread, concealing much of the granulation. Sharp granules few or 

 altogether absent from upper surface of carpus and propodus of legs. 

 This form has been found not only at Bermuda but on the Florida 

 reefs (A. M. E.) and near Key West. (See table, pp. 528 and 529.) 



Contrasting with bermudensis is a form (Jorma pulchella) reaching 

 further south to Cuba and the Yucatan Channel which was described 

 by A. Milne Edwards from the Florida reefs. It is the roughest form, 

 the areolets embracing the mesogastric region, which has three, the 

 whole protogastric region which has four or five, and that part of the 

 branchial region between the mesogastric region and the posterior of 

 the lateral teeth. The bare areolets form a striking pattern against 

 the pubescent background. 



Quite at the other extreme is a single specimen supposed to have 

 come from Trinidad, in which the regions and subregions show little 

 signs of areolation and the hairy coat is unusually thick. The 

 granules or tubercles are few, even on the antero-lateral teeth. I call 

 this forma trinidadensis. 



Habits. — Verrill says ^^ oi forma bermudensis: "When living the 

 carapace and legs are often rather thickly covered, and sometimes 

 almost concealed, by a coating of whitish calcareous mud and sand 

 that adheres to the hairs that cover the back. * * * It is most 



" Trans. Connecticut Acad. Arts and Sci., vol. 13, 1908, p. 360. 



