SPINOUS SPIDER-CRAB. 



41 



dividuals not only exhibit the more slender and shorter 

 dimensions of the anterior legs, but the anterior part of the 

 carapace is much broader in proportion ; a character which 

 permanently belongs to the Mediterranean species, M. ver- 

 rucosa. 



Pennant's fignre of what he terms Cancer maia, belongs 

 to Lithodes arctica., and it is very probable that he, as well 

 as others, has confounded these two species, before the true 

 characters of Crustacea were understood, and indeed before 

 naturalists in general were aware of the value of specific 

 characters. 



There is a species found in the Mediterranean very 

 nearly allied to this, and which has been supposed to in- 

 habit our southern coast. It is the Maia verrucosa of 

 Edwards already alluded to : it is readily distinguished 

 from this by the absence of spines on the surface, which 

 are replaced by tubercles ; by the greater extent and de- 

 velopment of the supra-orbitar arch ; by the breadth of 

 the anterior portion of the carapace, which remains to the 

 adult age as broad as in the younger state ; and by the 

 depressed form of the carapace. I believe 31. verrucosa has 

 not been taken on our shores; those found in Cornwall, 

 and considered as such by Mr. Couch, being undoubtedly 

 the present species. 



This Crab is found in great abundance on almost all 

 parts of our southern and western coast. In Ireland it 

 occurs also on the southern coast. It is by far the largest 

 species of the family, and with the exception of the great 

 Crab, Cancer pagurus, the largest of the British Brachyura. 

 I have a specimen taken in Plymouth Sound, the carapace 

 of which is eight inches in length, and nearly six in 

 breadth, and the length of the anterior feet is fifteen 

 inches. 



