848 Annals of (lie SoiitJi African Museum.. 



MEGALOPIDEA. 



Larval decapods not yet affiliated to adult specimens of the 

 genera and species which they represent. 



Gen. MAEESTIA, Dana. 

 1852. Mareslia, Dana, U.S. Expl. Exp., vol. xiii., p. 487. 



In Separating this genus for part of Monolcpis, Say, Dana 

 defines it as follows : Carapace tricuspid in front, but the 

 rostrum strongly deflexed and the front seen from above not 

 acute in the middle. The four pairs of ambulatory feet not 

 armed below at the base ; the last pair often resting above 

 the carapace, the depression for receiving them sparingly 

 concave; the fingers stiliform, compressed, armed below [on 

 the inner margin] with spines [teeth], the finger of the last 

 pair apically furnished with long setae. Dana was quite 

 aware that he was dealing with immature forms. Marcstia 

 has apparently not yet been afiiliated to its true parents. 



■■' Makkstia P.EDERUS (Herbst). 

 1799. Cancer ijccdcrus, Ilerbst, Krabben und Krebse, vol. iii., pt. 1, 

 p. 51, pi. 47, fig. 1, fig. A. 

 Herbst speaks of the ambulatory feet as having fiat, thin, 

 very smooth joints, without mentioning the teeth on the finger- 

 margins, which distinguish this genus from Monolcpis, but the 

 teeth seem to be indicated in his figure. He also speaks of 

 the telson as having no side-fins; but this is probably an error 

 of observation, the single plates of the uropods easily escaping 

 notice. 

 1826. Megalopa mutica (?), Desmarest, Consid. gen. Crust., p. 201, 



pi. 34, fig. 2, a, h, c. 

 1843. Megalopa vi., Krauss, Siidafrik. Crust., p. 54. 



Occurs in Table Bay, pretty frequently. 

 1849. M. m., de Haan, Crustacea Japonica, p. 166. 



Specimens from the Cape of Good Hope seem to agree 

 completely with the French specimens. 

 1852. Marcstia elcgans, Dana, U.S. Expl. Exp., vol. xiii., p. 488, 

 pi. 31, fig. 2a-i. 

 "Off Cape of Good Hope, abundant." 



No. 118, two similar specimens, sent by Dr. Gilchrist, were 

 taken at a depth of 55 m., Vondeling Island, N. |- W. 3h miles. 

 The one examined had a carapace a little over 6 mm. long by 



