298 Records of the Indian Museum. [VorL. V, 
A table of measurements of the chelipedes in a number of 
specimens which present adult characters is given on page 299 to 
show the variation in the relative lengths of the joints. 
The tip of the telson is variable; it may be either broadly 
pointed or rounded. The terminal median spine is short and 
blunt, and the inner lateral spinules project beyond it by about 
half or two-thirds of their length; long sete are present at the 
tip, and extend much beyond the inner lateral spinules. 
The antero-lateral regions of the carapace are scabrous; the 
walking legs are also scabrous and setose ; the setze-present on the 
free margins of the abdominal epimera and caudal fin are longer 
than in any of the preceding species. 
Characters of females.—The rostrum is usually deeper than in 
males, and extends beyond the antennular stalk, but not so far 
as the distal margin of the antennal squame. ‘The large chelipedes 
are equal or sub-equal, and their length is about half that of the 
body ; they are sparingly setose. The palm is only slightly com- 
pressed ; the fingers are equal, their median ridges are feebly 
indented and definite tubercles can scarcely be said to exist. The 
body is practically smooth. Females with eggs (which are very 
small in this species) vary from 53 mm. to 40 mm. in total length. 
In one of them measuring 49 mm. the joint-measurements are as 
follows :— 
dee BTA MONE OF IDES ae nie 
Characters of the young.—The chelipedes are of equal length in 
very young males, which shows that with growth one of the 
chelipedes increases more quickly in length, and assumes the 
characteristics of the larger chelipede of the adult, while the other 
grows more slowly. In a specimen measuring 42 mm. in total 
length, the joint-measurements are as follows :-- 
Ay 15, MC y Pa Sik 4c5: 
Colours when fresh.—In large males a median pale band runs 
along the dorsal surface from the tip of the telson to the rostrum ; 
this is continued along the upper half of the rostrum to its tip. 
On the abdomen this band is incompletely divided by a median 
discontinous greyish streak. The fingers of the shorter chelipede, 
with the exception of the extreme tips, are dark-blue. 
The fingers in the female are encircled by two blue bands ; the 
extreme tips are white. The last pair of abdominal appendages 
are violet above and below, but their outer borders are white. 
Localities.—A large series from Madras, Red Hills, and Wala- 
jabad ; Trichinopoly ; Palghat ; Calicut ; and Tanjore District. 
General distribution —P. scabriculus is recorded from Ceylon 
(Heller), Saleyer and Celebes (de Man). It has been previously 
met with in the following Indian localities :—Kotri on the River 
Indus (Henderson), and Pondicherry (Nobili). 
