TO INDIAN CAECINOLOGY. 401 



Distribution. Japan {Be Uaaa) ; Iloug Kong- {Siimpson) ; Philippines [Bell) ; 

 Mergui (De Jlan). 



181. Philtra globosa (Fabr.). 



P. (/lubusa (Fabr.), De Man, Mergui Crust, j). 202 (1888). 



Rameswaram and Tnticoiia [Thurston). Common at Madras and on the Sontli Indian 

 coast generally {J. H. U.). 

 Distribution. Indian Seas. 



182. Philyra polita, n. sp. (PL XXXVIII. figs. 1-3.) 

 Madras, a series, not uncommon {J. B. H.). 



This species is closely allied to P. globosa, but distinguished as follows : — The carapace 

 is smooth, shining, punctate, and regularly convex:, without grooves, the margin defined 

 by a finely granulated line, which in the hepatic region is not perceptibly indented. In 

 P. gtohosa, on the other hand, the cara2)ace is finely granulated on the branchial regions, 

 not shining, and with branchio-cardiac grooves ; the marginal line carries tubercles of 

 varying size, and is distinctly indented at the hepatic area. 



The hand and carpus of the chelipedes are smooth, whereas in P. glolwsa they are 

 granulated along the inner surface, and the granules are partly arranged in linear series. 

 The fingers are smooth on their upper aud lower surfaces, and the opposing margins are 

 only sparingly toothed ; in P. gtohosa the surfaces are finely sulcate. Tlie inner margin 

 of the hand and immobile finger is almost straight ; in P. gtohosa it is strongly curved. 

 The penultimate segment of the male abdomen is smooth externally, and nearly twice 

 the length of the last segment ; in P. globosa it carries a prominent tubercle near the 

 distal end, and is only about one fourth of its length longer than the terminal segment. 

 The meropodites of the anibulatory legs are smooth underneath, whereas in P. gtohosa 

 they are finely granulated, especially those of the first pair. 



The largest specimen, a male, has the carapace 19-5 mm. both in length and in 

 breadth, the hand IS'.J nmi. long, and the dactylus l()-5 mm. ; in the female tbc carapace 

 is very slightly broader than long. 



This species has probably been confused with P. gtohosa. It is almost certainly the 

 one referred to Leucosia imrcellana of Pabricius, by Leach, Bell, and Milne-Edwards ; 

 but De Man, who has examined the type, has shown that Fabriciiis's species is a true 

 Leucosia. Both Leach aud Bell considered the species they examined as scarcely 

 distinct from P. gtotjosa. In the British Museum, under the name " ? Philgra porcellunu, 

 Pabr.," there arc three specimens, two of the present species, and a third of a distinct 

 undescribcd form ; all three carry a second label " P. gtobutosa" probably in Bell's 

 handwriting. 



In some specimens of P. polita the carapace is encrusted with Memhranipora Savartii, 

 Aud., aud a species of Hijdractinia occurs on 1 lie arms both of this species and of P. 

 globosa. I have not met with these commensals on P. scaijrinscula, Avliich probably 

 burrows in the sandy bottom, \vhile their presence in the two former indicates that they 

 live above ground. 



