DECAPOD A. DROMIAD/E. 



ANOMOURA. 



GENUS DROMIA, Ed^v. 



Cancer. Linn. Herbst. 



Dromia. Fabr. Latr. Leach, Edw. 



Generic character. — External anten7ice ■^la.c^di beneath the ocular 

 peduncle; the auditory tubercle, occupying the base, very large, and 

 perforated at the external angle ; the next joint large and nearly 

 cylindrical, forming the inferior boundary of the orbit, and armed 

 with a strong tooth. Internal antenna with the basal joint nearly 

 cylindrical ; the antennary fossre longitudinal and distant, and in- 

 complete at the outer side. Anterior feet very robust, terminating 

 in a strong claw, the extremities strongly toothed, and spoon- 

 sh3,ped. The second and third 2)airs of feet of moderate and nearly 

 equal length, terminating in a sharp somewhat curved nail ; the 

 basal joint of the third in the female pierced with the opening of 

 the generative apparatus ; the fourth and fifth pairs very small, 

 turned over the back of the carapace, against which they are closely 

 pressed, each terminating in a small but perfect double claw. Ca- 

 rapace somewhat globular, the regions distinctly marked; the front 

 inclined and small. Orbits deep. Ei/es with short peduncles. 



The characters of this remarkable genus are, to a certain 

 extent, intermediate between the brachyurous and macro- 

 urous forms. In the young state the great j)redominance 

 of the posterior or abdominal regions of the body approxi- 

 mate it in some measure to the latter ; and the general 

 form of the ceplmlo-thoracic portion, especially in the adult 

 condition, is not less assimilated to the former division of 

 the class. The characters of the posterior pairs of feet at 

 once remove it from either of these, and indicate its true 



