BEACHYURI. 199 



Its form, as that of the preceding species, though of inferior size, is 

 subtriangular, extending seven or eight Hnes from the base to the apex, or 

 extremity of the rostrum, and somewhat less across the base ; the claws 

 of larger specimens stretch towards two inches, and the limbs expand 

 about six between their opj^osite extremities. 



A distinctive character seen among the species consists in the form 

 of the articulation of the claw adjoining the forceps being short, and 

 rudely ovoidal in one, and in another its outhne or ogee convex above, 

 and concave lower down. The two hind limbs are provided with nails. 

 The form and position of the eyes or antennae will be understood from 

 simple inspection of the figures. — Plate L. figs. 1,2. 



Many specimens are totally covered by straggling short bristles, 

 especially scattered on the limbs, and sometimes the claws, as in fig. 2, 

 are quite hairy. I am not completely aware of the import of these 

 features. The colour of the finest specimens is wax yellow, some are 

 dingy white. Here the animal receives no embellishment. 



The whole parts are slender, delicate, and apparently very weak, 

 and incapable of resistance. In fact they are readily detached, to which 

 they are particularly exposed by their disproportionate length ; the 

 aspect of imbecility justly denotes their true character, for mutilated 

 specimens are extremely common. The animal, besides, advances with 

 a wavering and unsteady gait. At rest it sinks on the base amidst the 

 bended limbs, while the claws fold very awkwardly below them. 



The apron of the male is nearly quadrangular, that of the female 

 approaches the segment of a hollow sphere. An external view of it, as 

 covering the roe, is offered in fig. 3 ; the roe itself is exposed by fig. 4. 



This roe is in less profusion here than in any of the preceding 

 crabs. The capsules composing it advance in March and April, its pro- 

 gress being according to the season ; that of March is represented, fig. 5, 

 and some capsules, more enlarged, fig. 6, wherein the eyes of the included 

 young are visible. The number of these in some specimens did not ex- 

 ceed an hundred. The young, hatched from capsules in the first week 

 of March, resembled such as above described from other crabs. 



The senses of the Spider Crab are alike obtuse, as explained of pre- 



