gS Records of the Indian Museum. [Vol. VI, 



groove and is sharp and distinct throughout its course. The dorsal 

 surface both of the carapace and abdomen is usually strong!}^ 

 j)unctate and never presents a polished appearance. The anterior 

 margin of the ophthalmic somite, between the bases of the eye- 

 stalks is squarely truncate or emarginate, never pointed. The 

 dorsal carina of the carpus of the raptorial claw bears from three 

 to five sharp tubercles; the outer margin of the dactylus is sinuous. 

 In the bifurcate process from the basal joint of the uropod the 

 margin anterior to the small lobe on the external edge of the 

 longer spine is always strongly concave. 



I have reason to beUeve that this species is found in its typi- 

 cal form only in Chinese and Japanese waters. Three specimens 

 from the Hawaiian and Philippine Is. have also been examined, 

 but these differ from the others in several minute details. They 

 may possibly represent a distinct sub-species, but the material at 

 my disposal is not suflEicient to establish this with any certainty. 



All previous references of Squilla oratoria or affinis from local- 

 ities west of the Philippine Is. are, I believe, based on one or 

 other of the new forms described below, and of this in several in- 

 stances I have direct proof. In all, several hundreds of specimens 

 have been examined, including a fine collection from many widely 

 distant localities kindlv lent bv the Trustees of the British Museum. 



Squilla oratoria, de Haan, var. perpcnsa, nov. 



This variety is distinguished from the typical form by the 

 following characters : — 



The median carina of the carapace is interrupted and wholly 

 absent for a short space at the base of the anterior bifurcation. 

 The two arms of the bifurcate portion are frequently very fine and 

 are rarely obsolete. The carpus of the raptorial claw has a sharp 

 elevated carina on its dorsal aspect which terminates abruptly 

 before reaching the anterior margin; apart from this there is no 

 trace whatever of any dorsal tubercle. 



Very numerous specimens from localities ranging from Hong- 

 kong and N. Australia to the Persian Gulf. The largest example 

 is 107 mm. in length. Four specimens only out of the large series 

 examined exhibit characters intermediate between the variety and 

 the typical form. 



Squilla interrupta, Wood-Mason, MS. 



This abundant species may be separated from .S. oratoria, s.s., 

 by the following characters : — 



The median carina of the carapace is interrupted at the base 

 of the anterior bifurcated part precisely as in the var. perpensa. 

 The breadth of the cornea of the eyes is distinctly less than in 

 either of the two preceding forms, specimens of similar size being 

 compared. The carpus of the raptorial claw is constantly provided 

 with two, and only two, stout dorsal tubercles. In the bifurcate 



