388 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



lation. Second antennae short, not longer than rostrum, basal 

 joint well developed or nearly half its entire length, and end a 

 slender attenuated flagellum. Mandibles strong, well-developed, 

 with well-developed though slender incurved palp joined to its 

 upper edge. First and second maxillae well developed, broad, 

 palps and exopodites of both also well developed. First maxilli- 

 peds with well-developed exopodites. Second maxillipeds broad, 

 velvety over their outer surfaces, and act as doors to buccal mass. 

 Other limbs all more or less similar. Chelipeds not more en- 

 larged than legs, though well developed, and with inner edges of 

 forceps rather obsoletely dentate or serrate. First pair of ambu- 

 latory legs longest, similar to all others, last pair shortest, and 

 second a trifle longer than third. All but first pair of legs mono- 

 dactylous, and dactyli curved, conic, and velvety over basal por- 

 tions like all other legs. Postabdomen slender, or rather nar- 

 row in male, folds on abdomen two-thirds space to mouth-parts. 

 Color in life muddy-brown with slight olive tinge, nearly uni- 

 form. Length of carapace 70 mm., width 55 mm. 



Remarks. — ^This is the "sea spider" of the seashore excur- 

 sionists, and is often taken on his line when it touches the 

 bottom, the crab simply holding tight to the bait till hauled out. 

 As it is quite slow in its movements, it will often still cling to 

 the bait some time after being drawn from the water. The com- 

 mon spider-crab ranges all along our coast, from Maine south- 

 wlard to Florida, and is especially numerous in the bays and 

 sounds. Though a bottom animal, or living in the mud or eel- 

 grass, or in decaying vegetation, it also occurs below low-water 

 mark on sandy beaches occasionally. As stated above, it is quite 

 sluggish in its motions, and ofTers no resistance to its captor. 

 O'f no commercial value it is an object of disgust to the fisher- 

 man, and equally amusing to the excursionists. It does not seem 

 to be much sought as food by predatory fishes, though its remains 

 have been found in the smooth hound (Mnstelns canis). As 

 the whole body of the spider crab is hairy or velvety, it collects 

 dirt and mud, which probably renders its concealment more 

 effectual. Algae, hydroids, barnacles and other marine animals 

 have also been found growing on its body, and these may also 



