240 Transactions. 



38. Munida gregaria Fabricius. (Chilton, I.e., p. 301.) 



This interesting crustacean is abundant in both its forms in Otago 

 waters. In the bottom (or creeping) form it occasionally comes up the har- 

 bour in immense numbers. In September, 1898, the Upper Harbour seemed 

 full of them, and they were seen creeping over the stones and piles of the 

 jetties and among the -rocks on the foreshore in countless thousands. 



But it is in the swimming stage (formerly known as Grimothea gregaria) 

 that they are so enormously abundant. They are found all the year round, 

 but are particularly numerous in the summer months, when they move 

 about in great bright-red shoals. They furnish one of the commonest 

 articles of food, especially to fishes which swim near the surface, and they 

 have been taken from the stomachs of the following : Red-cod, hapuka, 

 kelp-fish, teraldhi, blue-cod, spotty, parrot-fish, ling, leather-jacket, smooth 

 hound, and spiny dog-fish. 



At the hatchery Anderton has obtained the swimming stage carrying 

 ova in the month of September ; while during the same month numbers of 

 those in the ponds in the Grimothea (swimming) stage gradually sank to 

 the bottom and became quite indistinguishable from the Munida (ground 

 or creeping form). 



Macrura. 



39. Jasus edwardsii Hutton. 



The common crayfish is extremely abundant in Otago Harbour near the 

 hatchery, and along the whole east coast of Otago. 



The ova hatch out in November and December, and immense numbers 

 of the fry have been liberated from the hatchery -ponds. A note on their 

 development was published in Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 39, p. 484, pi. 20. 



40. Pontophilus australis G. M. Thomson. 



A very common shrimp in the harbour and on the coast. 



41. Betaeus aequimanus Dana. 



The jumping shrimp is found commonly under stones between tide- 

 marks all along the east coast. 



42. Alope palpalis White. 



This is a fine large prawn, frequently met with in rock-pools along the 

 coast. 



43. Hippolyte bifidirostris Miers. 



Common along the east coast, where it is frequently picked up by the 

 trawlers. 



44. Palaemon affinis Milne-Edwards. 



Very common, and the only shrimp used as food by man to any extent. 



45. Brachycarpus audouini Bate. 



A slender little shrimp, quite common along the coast, and frequently 

 picked up with trawled material. 



