PIRIMELA DENTICULATA. 



73 



surface of the carapace is convex, the regions distinctly 

 marked, and the anterior half has several rounded eleva- 

 tions, but the hepatic regions arc excavated towards the 

 margin. The anterior pair of legs are of moderate size, 

 equal ; the wrist has three carina), each of which termi- 

 nates in a small tubercle near its articulation ; the hand 

 has four distinct carinse, two on the upper, and two on 

 the outer surface ; the moveable finger has two longitu- 

 dinal grooves ; and both the fingers are moderately and 

 evenly toothed. The remaining legs are compressed and 

 ciliated at the edges, particularly the fifth pair. The ab- 

 domen of the male has five joints, that of the female seven; 

 the latter is of a lanceolate form, and furnished at the 

 margin with numerous long hairs. The usual length of 

 the carapace in English specimens, is not more than six 

 lines, and its breadth nearly seven ; but I have in my 

 collection specimens from the Mediterranean, of which the 

 carapace is nine-tenths of an inch in length, and an inch in 

 breadth. 



The colour in some specimens is greenish, in others 

 purplish and brown mottled. 



This must be considered as one of the least common 

 species belonging to our coasts. It was first described by 

 the indefatigable Montagu, who states that it was sent to 

 him by Mr. Boys, " as the produce of the coast of Sand- 

 wich ;" and he adds, "I have seen a specimen in the cabinet 

 of Mr. Donovan, which I am assured came from the coast 

 of Scotland." Leach mentions the latter specimen, and 

 says that he obtained a fragment from the same locality ; 

 two other places on the south coast of Devon, Bantham 

 and Torquay, are also named by that celebrated naturalist 

 as its habitats. Mr. W. Thompson found three specimens 

 washed ashore at Compton, in the Isle of Wight. The 



