Invertebrate Gallery of the Indian Museum. 71 



2nd Family, Trapeziidse— with the exception of Eriphiai 

 the Trapeziidx, are small crabs found usually 

 esconced in coral-stocks. The Indian genera 

 exhibited are Eriphia, Trapezia, Quadrella, 

 and Cymo, 

 3rd Family, Portunidae — large, fierce, marine crabs with 

 the last pair of thoracic legs forming broad pad- 

 dles for swimming. They swim sideways with 

 great rapidity with one of the big chelae fully ex- 

 tended in front. The following common Indian 

 marine genera are shown •.—Achelous, Scylla, 

 Neptunus, Thalamita, and Goniosoma. 

 4th Family, Podophthaiinidae. Podophthalmus vigil, 

 Fabr. (Case 65) with eye-stalks of enormous 

 length, is the only Indian representative of this 

 family. 

 5th Family, Telphusida3. — This is a very large family 

 as regards species, all of which however fall 

 into two genera — Telphusa and Paratel- 

 phiisa, — both of which are largely exhibited. 

 The Telphusidse live in fresh-water, and are very 

 common in rivers and ponds in India. It should 

 be mentioned that by several authorities the Tel- 

 phusidae are placed in the next tribe, of Cato- 

 metopa, and by all are regarded as in many 

 respects intermediate in structure between the 

 two tribes. 

 2nd Tribe, Catometopa, Case 69. — The members of this 

 tribe are characterised by having the front part of the 

 carapace bent downwards: some live entirely on dry land, 

 some frequent the muddy fiats of estuaries, and some are 

 marine. 



The Catometopes form four families, all of which occur 

 in India. 



ist Family, Gecarcinidse : — Land-crabs. — Specimens of 

 three genera, Gecarcinus, Cardisoma, and 

 Hylseocarcinus—ase shown in Case 69 — the last 



