BARBADOS-ANTIGUA EXPEDITION i 
‘by breaking up masses of old coral heads brought up by our 
diver. These are mostly small species not yet identified. Among 
them might be mentioned numerous ‘‘pistol crabs,’’ which 
greatly amused us with the sharp clacking or clicking noise 
made by their chele, resembling the tapping of a metallic sub- 
stance on glass. There seemed to be several species of these 
and also many shrimp-like macrurans showing brilliant color- 
ation in which deep blues and rich dark reds predominated. 
In looking over the almost innumerable specimens of small 
crabs secured in this way, I am impressed with the prevalence 
of dark, rather dull, red color in the assemblage as a whole, 
although I am entirely unable to account for it on any theory of 
coloration that I know of; unless the fact that it is dark red may 
help concealment in the probably dim light of the cavities in 
coral rock which these animals select as their habitat. I noticed 
also that many otherwise dull-colored crabs are apt to have their 
chele, or pincers, strikingly colored in sharp contrast. For 
instance, Ozius reticulatus is not a conspicuous purplish brown, 
but has jet black chele, while Mithrax verrucosus is a brighter 
pink, but has vivid carmine claws. One of the most conspicuous 
specimens secured was Carpilius corallinus, taken in a fish-pot 
off Lord’s Castle. This was a brilliant carmine with almost 
black chele. The body is orbicular, quite smooth, and about 
five inches in diameter. 
Among the strange forms from comparatively deep water we 
secured at Station 64, depth about 150 fathoms, a small, ex- 
ceedingly slender legged spider crab, allied to Anisonotus 
curvirostris, figured by Alexander Agassiz in his ‘‘ Three Cruises 
of the Blake,’’ with a triangular body, slender beak-like ros- 
trum, and very long legs. Our specimen is, however, much more 
slender and delicate than is indicated in Agassiz’s figure. The 
legs are so slender as to be thread-like and bear bristles as fine 
as the most delicate sponge spicules. Another species of curious 
form is the Solenolambrus tenellus, with very long chelate ap- 
pendages edged with spines, and the chele proper armed with 
relatively small triangular pincers. 
One of the most highly modified crustaceans secured by us 
was Cymothoa estrum, the so-called ‘‘roach’’ already mentioned 
as being parasitic on the back part of the tongue of the ‘‘horse- 
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