106 



RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



Variation. — A splendid series of 150 male specimens in the Aastralian 

 Museum collectiou exhibits a remarkable range of variation in the form of 

 the larger hand, which is illustrated in the accompanying figures. They 

 include the typical inarioni>; form as illustrated by Desmarest, Milne 

 Edwards, and Kingsley ; the var. nitida form as figured by Dana, and the 

 forms illusti-ated in figs. 5 and 5a of De Man as (i. rocau^' and (J. i-ocam- 

 var. cidtrimanKf:, and also similar variation to that described by the latter 

 author in 1902 (vide sitpra). The intermediate stage between marioiiis 

 and var. nitida, as figured by Milne Edwards, is not represented in our 

 collection, bnt an additional variety, whicli I propose to call ronierif', is 

 represented by many specimens from Australia. 



Uca viario7iis, var. tijpica (Plate xix.,and Fig. 3). — In this variety the 

 movable finger is yevj blade-like, and is subequally toothed along the 

 whole of its inner edge. It is more delicate and slender in some specimens 

 than in others, and is sometimes nearly straight along its cutting edge. 

 The immovable finger is scarcely excavate and there are no angular 

 projections anteriorly, but a broad low one occuis near the base ; the 

 cutting edge forms a shallow sinuous curve. The crests oti the inner 

 surface of the palm are not so prominent as those in the other varieties; 



, rif^'^ 



FifSs. 1 and 2. Chelre of adult males of var. nilida, from Fiji. 



Fifi. 3. Inner surface of palm of adult male of var. lypka from the Endeavour River estuary at 



Cooktown, Queensland ; same specimen as Fiji. 10, on Plate xix. 

 Fig. 4. Inner surface of palm of adult male of var. vomer is, from Trial Bay, New South Wales: 



same specimen as Figs. 1-3 on Plate xix. 

 Fig. 5. Inner surface of palm of adult male of var. nitida, from Fiji : same specimen as text fig I. 



there is a short clearly defined one on the lower surface of the |)alm, and 

 another near the base of the immovable finger which is iri-egulai- in form. 

 This may be obscurely divided into two in some specimens, while in others 

 the two mex'ge to form a low, wide i-idge of granules; in otheis again, this 

 ridge is obsolete. 



Vca inarioiiis, var. vameris, var. nov. (IMate xix., and Fig. -I). — Inter- 

 mediate between var. typica and var. nitida is a form common in sub-tropical 

 Australia. In this the base oi the immovable finder is armed with a small 



