ART. 9. FOSSIL CRABS FROM HAITI RATHBUN, 5 



over to the middle line which it reaches when about half the length 

 of the finger; it then widens and flattens into the general surface 

 of the finger. Outside the proximal half of the ridge there is a 

 deep groove, broad at first but narrowing into a linear furrow. 

 Proximal half of upper surface finely granulate ; outer and inner 

 surfaces each with three lines of elongate punctae. Largest finger 

 6 2nm long, tip missing. 



The only recent species approaching this is Rhithropanopeus har- 

 risii (Gould),* which occurs locally on the east coast of the United 

 States in brackish water or in estuaries. In harrisii the superior 

 ridge of the dactylus of the minor chela is less askew, the neighbor- 

 ing groove is shorter and the granulation is very coarse. 



? PARTHENOPE, species. 



Plate 2, figs. 4 and 5. 



Republic of Haiti: High bluff on left bank of River I'Ayaye 

 about 1 km above trail crossing; Thomonde formation; lower Mio- 

 cene series; W. P. Woodring (9907) ; a right palm, showing part of 

 upper and outer (or lower) surfaces; Cat. No. 333432, U.S.N.M. 



Measurements,— Liength of palm, along upper-outer margin, 11 

 mm, greatest width of upper surface (tip of spine broken oil), 

 4.4 mm. 



The two surfaces visible are nearly at a right angle to each other, 

 instead of an acute angle, as usual in Parthenopids ; at their union 

 there is a narrow raised rim on the upper surface ; this rim is a little 

 convex and without spines or tubercles. The inner (or upper) edge 

 of this surface is provided with a few spines, how many is not known, 

 but three spines occupy the distal half of the margin ; they are broad 

 at base, rather flat, smooth, and rise very gradually and slightly above 

 the general surface; the space between the first (or distal) and second 

 spines is twice as great as the space between the second and third. 

 The tips of all the spines are missing. At the distal end of the same 

 surface, and a little above or within the outer margin there is a 

 conical spine normal to the surface ; a little higher there is indication 

 of another spine, broken off at base. Near the margins and on the 

 lower or outer proximal quarter, the surface is smooth ; elsewhere it 

 is granulate, granules very unequal and irregularly disposed, those 

 on the distal half very coarse, those on the proximal half very fine. 

 Proximal margin of surface broadly rounded. The outer surface, 

 or lower-outer surface, according as the chela is oriented, is smooth; 

 while its upper part is at right angles to the surface above described, 

 its lower part curves inward. As the shell is very fragile and is 

 embedded in a matrix, it is impossible to discover further characters. 



* Pil urn nils Jmrrinii Gould, Invert. Massachusetts, 1841, p. ;?2fi. 



