﻿323 
  

  

  PYCNOGONIDA. 
  

  

  E. 
  J. 
  MIERS. 
  

  

  1. 
  Achelia 
  laevis, 
  var. 
  australiensis. 
  (Plate 
  XXXV. 
  fig. 
  A.) 
  

  

  Body 
  and 
  legs 
  moderately 
  robust, 
  the 
  body 
  disciform, 
  the 
  leg- 
  

   bearing 
  processes 
  being 
  closely 
  approximated. 
  Proboscis 
  stout, 
  sub- 
  

   cylindrical, 
  tapering 
  toward 
  its 
  distal 
  extremity, 
  slightly 
  deflexed. 
  

   Mandibles 
  rudimentary, 
  2-jointed, 
  the 
  terminal 
  joint 
  very 
  small. 
  

   Palpi 
  8-jointed?; 
  ovigerous 
  legs 
  10-jointed. 
  Legs 
  without 
  spines, 
  

   but 
  with 
  a 
  short, 
  blunt, 
  conical 
  process 
  at 
  the 
  distal 
  end 
  of 
  the 
  

   fourth 
  joint, 
  and 
  with 
  two 
  auxiliary 
  claws 
  beside 
  the 
  normal 
  claw. 
  

   As 
  Mr. 
  Hodge's 
  description 
  of 
  Achelia 
  lavis 
  (from 
  Polperro, 
  Corn- 
  

   wall) 
  is 
  very 
  insufficient, 
  I 
  append 
  the 
  following 
  from 
  the 
  single 
  

   Australian 
  example 
  I 
  have 
  examined 
  : 
  — 
  

  

  The 
  body 
  is 
  robust 
  and 
  disciform, 
  with 
  the 
  leg-bearing 
  processes 
  

   enlarging 
  distally 
  and 
  closely 
  approximated. 
  The 
  cephalothoraeic 
  

   segment 
  (viewed 
  from 
  above) 
  is 
  as 
  long 
  as 
  the 
  three 
  following 
  and 
  

   is 
  elevated 
  on 
  its 
  dorsal 
  surface, 
  which 
  bears 
  the 
  rounded 
  oculiferous 
  

   tubercle 
  ; 
  the 
  three 
  following 
  segments 
  (in 
  a 
  dorsal 
  view) 
  short 
  and 
  

   transverse 
  ; 
  the 
  first 
  the 
  shortest, 
  almost 
  transversely 
  liuear. 
  The 
  

   proboscis 
  is 
  about 
  as 
  long 
  as 
  the 
  body 
  without 
  the 
  abdomen, 
  ob- 
  

   liquely 
  deflexed, 
  and 
  is 
  of 
  a 
  narrow 
  ovoid 
  shape, 
  tapering 
  to 
  the 
  

   distal 
  extremity. 
  The 
  abdomen 
  about 
  as 
  long 
  as 
  the 
  three 
  preceding 
  

   segments 
  of 
  the 
  body, 
  and 
  very 
  slender. 
  The 
  mandibles 
  are 
  rudi- 
  

   mentary, 
  2-jointed, 
  the 
  terminal 
  joint 
  about 
  half 
  the 
  length 
  of 
  

   the 
  preceding. 
  The 
  palpi 
  are 
  apparently 
  8-jointed 
  (on 
  one 
  side 
  

   evidently 
  broken) 
  ; 
  the 
  second 
  and 
  fourth 
  joints 
  subequal 
  and 
  rather 
  

   long 
  ; 
  the 
  first 
  and 
  third 
  and 
  the 
  four 
  last 
  very 
  short. 
  The 
  ovigerous 
  

   legs 
  10-jointed 
  ; 
  the 
  first 
  joint 
  ver\' 
  short, 
  the 
  second 
  and 
  third 
  

   longer 
  and 
  subequal, 
  the 
  fourth 
  and 
  fifth 
  yet 
  longer 
  and 
  of 
  about 
  

   equal 
  length, 
  the 
  sixth 
  to 
  ninth 
  very 
  short, 
  and 
  the 
  terminal 
  joint 
  

   miniite. 
  The 
  first 
  to 
  third 
  joints 
  of 
  the 
  legs 
  are 
  short, 
  the 
  second 
  a 
  

   very 
  little 
  longer 
  than 
  the 
  first 
  or 
  third; 
  the 
  fourth, 
  fifth, 
  and 
  sixth 
  

   joints 
  longer 
  and 
  of 
  about 
  equal 
  length 
  ; 
  the 
  fourth 
  joint 
  somewhat 
  

   more 
  dilated 
  than 
  either 
  of 
  the 
  following, 
  and 
  with 
  a 
  sliglit 
  blunt 
  

   process 
  at 
  the 
  distal 
  end 
  of 
  its 
  upper 
  margin 
  ; 
  the 
  upper 
  surface 
  of 
  

   the 
  fifth 
  and 
  sixth 
  joints 
  is 
  slightly 
  uneven, 
  but 
  can 
  scarcely 
  be 
  

  

  t2 
  

  

  