GIBBS S SPIDER-CRAB. 



29 



in the elevontli volume of the "Transactions of the Linnean 

 Society,''' under the name of Cancer hiaculeatus -^ and Dr. 

 Leach afterwards assigned to it its present name after the 

 discoverer. 



According to the same authority it is not an uncommon 

 species on the southern coast of Devon and Cornwall. In 

 the latter county Mr. Couch says it is not uncommon, oc- 

 curring at various depths, from two to twenty fathoms. I 

 have ohtained it at Hastings ; where Mr. Hailstone also 

 mentions its frequent occurrence ; and Dr. Milne Edwards 

 mentions it as an inhabitant of the French coast. 



It is generally found in deep water, and is taken either 

 by the trawl net, or by dredging. It spawns in December, 

 according to the observation of Mr. Hailstone. 



