TO INDIAN CAECINOLOGY. 331 



flat expanse of sand or mud, \vlii(;li frequently extends seawards for some considerable 

 distance. In the tidal belt blocks of dead and water-worn coral are strewed about, and 

 in places these enclose artificial rock pools, in which Crustacea, Molluscs, Sponges, 

 Holothurians, &c. are very abundant. Tlie Crustacea most commonly met with at low 

 water are : — Atergatis floridm, Leptodias examtm, Pllumims oespertilio, Eriphia IcBvi- 

 mana, Thulamita j}r//mna, Jfefopofp'apsus messor, Leiolophus planissimus, Fetrolisthes 

 denlatm, and Gonodactijlm filaber. Of these; it may be mentioned that the JPlUmnus is 

 remarkably sluggish and apathetic ; the Thalamita is extremely active, while the 

 Fetrolisthes conceals itself under stones or pieces of coral, and when captured usually 

 throws off its claws. On walking over the coral blocks a peculiar clicking noise is lieard 

 on all sides, which is found to proceed from species of Alphenn, very common in the 

 tidal pools. This noise is productnl by the crustacean rapidly Hexing the dactylus of its 

 larger chela against the corresponding immol)ile finger, probably under the stimulus of 

 fear, for the movement is very freely indulged in when the animal is handled. Near 

 high-water mark, in places where slight pools are left by the tide, a minute hermit-crab 

 [Diogenes, sp.), scai'cely a (juarter of an inch in length, is very common, and here and 

 there on the sandy shore colonies of Cceiiobita riigosa have established themselves, in 

 company with the ubiquitous Ocypods. Tn a tidal backwater, which forms shallow 

 lagoons at intervals round the island, the burrowing Gelasinias annulipes is seen in 

 great numbers, and, on sand- or mud-baiiks, Scopimera myctiroides, a species of similar 

 habits. 



The great wealth of animal life on the reef is very apparent, for on a calm day, with 

 no breeze to rutlie tlie surface, and with merely a few feet of clear water intervening, 

 the growing coral can be readily examined from a boat, when it is seen to be arranged 

 in irregvilar patches of varying size, often brightly coloured, and separated by spots of 

 coral sand. Under favovu-alile conditions objects even of moderate size can be readily 

 discerned, the most conspicuous being Actiniae, Asterids, Echini, large Molluscs, such as 

 Ptei'ocera, Ci/prcea, &c., and gaudily-hued fishes. The most satisfactory mode of 

 collecting is by means of diving; practised divers have no dilficulty in loosening large 

 blocks of coral, and in bringing thes(! to the surface, whence tliey arc draAvn into the 

 boat. In this way large numbers of crustaceans are taken, either liiding in the crevices 

 or clinging to the coral branches. The genera most numerously represented are : — 

 Chlorodius, Leptodius, Elisus, Filumims, Trapezia, Folyonyx, Alpheus, and Gonodactylus, 

 but a list of even the commoner species would occupy more space tiian can be allotted 

 to it here. Very interesting and varied are the modes hy which most of these are 

 protected in this densely populattnl an^a, where the struggle for existence nuist neces- 

 sarily be severe. The slow inactive Maioid forms are frequently rendered inconspicuous 

 by heterogeneous collections of foreign objects, such as sponges, corallines, hydroids, &c. 

 attached to the carapace or legs, the retention of which is, in some cases, facilitated 

 by the presence of short hooked hairs. Some specimens of Micippa appear, hoivever, to 

 content themselves with a simple coating of sand-grains which are entangled in or held 

 l)y the short hairs on the upper surface. The well-known habit possessed by many 

 Dromiids, of seeking protection under an enveloping sponge or ascidian, which is 



