No. 2319. A NEW CHINESE ISOPOD— BOONE. 499 



line, in striking contrast to that of japonensis, which is recurvate. 

 The entire segment is distinctly narrower than the second segment, 

 extending only to the inner margin of the latter's epimera. The 

 second, third, and fourth segments are similar and subequal, differing 

 only in that their lateral parts graduatingly increase posteriorly and 

 their respective epimera correspondingly graduatingly decrease pos- 

 teriorly. The fifth, sixth, and seventh segments are similar, each 

 being about two-thirds the length of the preceding segment; all are 

 decidedly constricted postlaterally, Epimera are present on the last 

 six segments; all are roughly triangulate. Those of the second, 

 third, and fourth segments are relatively large, occupying the antero- 

 lateral angle of the margin of their respective segments and being 

 closely appressed. The epimera of the fifth, sixth, and seventh seg- 

 ments are proportionately weaker and are almost hidden by the over- 

 lapping of the respective preceding segments due to their great 

 constriction. All seven pairs of legs are strongly prehensile, the 

 first three being directed forward, tlie last four backward. The 

 second pair are decidedly stronger than any of the others; the 

 seventh pair are uniquely distinctive. 



In order to emphasize the validity of the present species it has 

 seemed advisable to present a critical comparative diagnosis of the 

 seventh legs of three adult female specimens, representing, respec- 

 tively, /. geei, I. japcniensis, and /. jdlinghausi% which yields the 

 following results : 



/. geei: Coxopodite rudimentary; basipodite conspicuously con- 

 stricted basally, its gi'eatest width occurring midway the distal end, 

 the outer margin distinctly keeled and deflected, only the distal end 

 approaching true convexity, the point of union with the ischium is 

 emphasized by a break in the marginal line, the inner side bears a 

 distinct groove near the basal end on either side of which the margin 

 is accentuated and reflected outwards, the distal end is convexly pro- 

 duced, this sculpturing of the entire inner margin dovetails with the 

 flattened inner margin of the ischium, thus greatly enhancing the 

 strength of the limb. The ischium has the form of an inverted 

 triangulate pyramid, with each side slightly concavely depressed and 

 the inferior margin flattened. The merus is nearly half as long as 

 the ischium, wider than long, the outer margin broadly, roundly pro- 

 duced into a flaring lobe. The inner distal area is only very little 

 produced and extends only a trifle along the inner side of the carpus 

 in striking contrast to that of /. japonensis Richardson; the distal 

 margin of the merus is also differently sculptured, the articulation of 

 the carpus with the merus is also different from that of japonensis 

 The carpus of the present species is approximately as large as the 

 merus of japone7isis, although the specimen of geei is 23.1 mm. long, 

 while japonensis is 14.2 mm. long. In shape the carpus of geei is 



