STOMOPODA. SQUILL A DAi, 



GENUS SQUILLA. 



Squilla. Rondel. 



Cancer. Lin. Herbet. 



Squilla. Fabr., Latr., Leach, Desmar. Roux, Edw., &c. 



Generic character. — Antennary segment moveable, nearly qua- 

 drilateral. External or inferior antennce inserted on each side the 

 antennary segment, beneath the anterior margin of the carapace ; 

 the first and second joints of the peduncle short and tliick, the 

 latter bearing at its extremity a broad, oval scale ; the terminal 

 filaments slender and short. The internal or snperior antenna} 

 attached to the anterior margin of the antennary segment, and 

 composed of a tri- articulate peduncle terminating in three filaments 

 of moderate length. Month situated under the posterior third of 

 the carapace. First pair of thoracic members forming a pair of 

 robust claws, of which the terminal joint is furnished with long 

 and sharp teeth, and is capable of being doubled upon the penulti- 

 mate joint, into a groove of which it is received, forming a power- 

 ful prehensile implement. The three pairs following the claws are 

 small, and terminated by a rounded hand, with a single finger, 

 forming a single claw like that in crangon ; the three posterior 

 thoracic members much smaller, slender, cylindrical, and furnished 

 with a styliform appendage attached to the extremity of the ante- 

 penultimate joint. Carapace longer than broad, divided by longi- 

 tudinal sulci into three portions; not covering the first two cephalic 

 nor the last four thoracic segments. Abdomen rounded above, each 

 segment furnished with a pair of broad natatory false-feet, the 

 basilary joint quadrilateral, each bearing two lamellar branches, 

 the exterior of which gives attachment on its posterior face, and 

 close to the peduncle, to a tufted branchla. Tlie last segment of 

 the abdomen is very large, forming the middle plate of the tail, the 



