29 



posterior margin is another transverse row of three denticles, — one in the middle 

 of the intestinal region and one on the posterior wall of the branchial region on 

 either side. 



The carapace is strongly convex, the convexity gradually increasing from 

 before backwards and • then suddenly dropping, like a simian craniimi, which in 

 profile it much resembles : the surface is everywhere finely granular. 



The regions of the carapace are well delimited by broad shallow grooves 

 and lines of dimples, the branchial regions each forming an enormous tumid 

 expanse. A sHghtly raised ridge traverses the carapace, in the middle line, from 

 the base of the front to the intestinal denticle. 



The front is broadly bilobed, each lobe being convex dorsally and acuminate : 

 beyond it in a dorsal view is seen the epistome and the whole length of the edge 

 of the buccal cavern. 



The surface of the external maxillipeds and the ventral surface of the 

 carapace are finely granular, but the sternum and the greater part of the abdo- 

 men are smooth. In the middle of the sternum of the female, between the 

 genital openings, is an erect spine. 



The external maxillipeds have a narrow triangular endopodite, the merus of 

 which is strongly curved upwards towards the front ; and a foliaceous exopodite, 

 which is much shorter than the endopodite, and which is semicircular in shape 

 and two-thirds as broad as long — broader even than in Philyra globosa, Fabr. 



The chelipeds as in Myra fugax, vary according to age and sex : in the adult 

 male they are 4^ times, in the female and young male 2^ times, the length of the 

 carapace, and are only about twice as massive as the legs : their surface up to 

 nearly the end of the hand is finely scabrous. The arm is cylindrical : the hand 

 in the female is cylindrical, but in the male somewhat clavate. The hand in the 

 male is more than 3 times, in the female only twice the length of the fingers : the 

 fingers are stout, gently curved in the female, somewhat sinuous in the adult 

 male, and their opposed edges are almost edentulous. 



The legs in the male are shorter than the arm ; in the female they are a 

 little longer than the arm : they are cyUndrical, and finely scabrous on the dorsal 

 surface : the dactyli are obtusely pointed, and have both their edges closely 

 fringed with longish stiff hairs. 



Colours in spirit rusty reddish. 



The carapace of the average adult male is 50 millim. long and 56 millim. 

 broad, of the adult female 40 millim. long and 48 millim. broad. 



Fairly common on soft muddy bottoms along the east coast of India between 

 70 and 250 fathoms. 



In the Indian Museum collection are 96 specimens of both sexes and aU ages. 

 5 



