314 THALASSINA ANOMALA. 
NOTE XLIV. 
ON THE HABITS OF THALASSINA ANOMALA HERBST 
Dr. R. HORST. 
In his interesting note on Thalassina scorpionoides ') Latr. 
(Challenger-Reports , Zoology, Vol. XXIV, p. 19, Pls. HI, 
IV) Mr. Spence Bate gives a detailed description of the 
peculiar branchial organs of this animal, which in the cen- 
tral portion of the branchial chamber, instead of consisting 
of cylindrical rods, are developed into thin foliaceous pla- 
tes, bringing the blood over a large surface into contact 
with the aérating medium within the chamber. From this 
structure the author believes, that it may be deduced, that 
the circulation of the water through the branchial chamber 
cannot be very vigorous and that the animal probably in- 
habits hollow passages in the mud. It will therefore not 
be without interest to know, what an eye-witness Prof. 
K. Martin, who met with these animals during his jour- 
ney in the Moluccas, writes us about their habits and 
mode of existence. 
1) It seems to me very dubious, wether the specimen, described by Mr. Spence 
Bate is identical with Zh. anomala Herbst (— scorpionoides Latr.); in this 
species the second pair of pereiopoda more resembles the first of them than 
the following ones. It has its propodos compressed, nearly as long as broad, 
with a short, pointed pollex and is furnished with a compressed, arched dac- 
tylos. However in the specimen of Kandavu, as described and figured by Mr. 
Sp. Bate, the second, third and fourth pairs of perciopoda resemble each other; 
the propodos is subcylindrical, longer than broad and the dactylos is curved 
in a reverse direction from the common plan. 
Notes from the Leyden Museum, Vol. XV. 
