MATUTA PICTA. 



149 



this species in the » Recherches sur la Faune de Madagas- 

 car", are occasionnally a little inaccurate , but some figures , 

 as for instance the one of the right hand of the male 

 (PI. VII , fig. 56), which seems to represent tioo spines on 

 the outer ridge , and those of the hand of the female (PI. 

 VI , fig. 49 and 50), where the immobile finger seems to 

 be ver}^ short, are nevertheless exact, these hands being 

 figured in an oblique direction. In all our specimens the 

 spots are disposed symmetrically in very thin threadlike 

 reticulating lines. The front in some individuals is very 

 slightly emarginate, in others it is entire. The females 

 are of a smaller size than the males. The relative length 

 of the lateral spines of the carapace is somewhat variable. 



As regards the three Banda-Neira specimens, these 

 ivholly agree with the preceding except in the coloration , 

 the carapace being marked with dark purplish red lines, 

 «that form irregular loops and circles, which are smaller 

 and more crowded anterioi'ly, and interspersed with spots". 

 The front is entire and rounded, like in some of our Ma- 

 dagascar specimens. Lateral spines rather short. They 

 entirely resemble the figure of Mat. obfusifrons Miers (PI. 

 XL, fig. 8 and 9) and I therefore regard this species as 

 a variety of Mat. picta Hess, being only distinguished by 

 its different coloration. 



Mat. picta Hess has a wide geographical range , being 

 recorded from Ceylon , Zanzibar , Madagascar , Seychelles , 

 Mauritius, the Moluccas, Fiji Islands, New Hebrides and 

 Australian seas. 



Though displaying many varieties in its coloration , our 

 species possesses nevertheless the following striking cha- 

 racters, by which it is easily distinguished from the other 

 species : 



Carapace distinctly granulated , especially in the centre 

 and towards the lateral spines , that are of moderate , though 

 somewhat variable length and directed slightly forward. 

 Three large tubercles on the antero-lateral margins, like 

 those of the surface and of the postero-lateral margins 



Notes from the Leyden üMuseum. "V^ol. III. 



