128 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS 



Genus PLATYGRAPSUS^ Stimpson 



This name was proposed in tlie Proceedings of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia for the genus called Platynotns by 

 De Haan. this latter name having several times been previousl}- used. 

 and more than once for articulates. 



213. PLATYGRAPSUS DEPRESSUS ' (De Haan) Stimpson 



Platynotus depressus De Haan, Fauna Japonica, Crust., 63, pi. viii, hg. 2. 

 Milne Edwards, Mel. Carcin., p. 165. 



Easily recognized by its flat, glossy carapax, which is of a brown- 

 ish color, often variegated with yellowish white, purple, red. or 

 black. The greatest breadth is at the second lateral tooth. 



De Haan's figure of this species is poor, contrary to the usual accu- 

 racy seen in his work, and his description is defective in some points. 

 The dactyli of the posterior pair of feet are not trigonal, but de- 

 pressed and sulcated. The inner angle of the carpus is rounded only 

 in very old specimens ; in those of moderate size and in the young 

 this angle forms a sharp tooth or short spine. Finally the species is 

 not found "in fluviis montanis," but is a true marine form, living on 

 gravelly shores above low-water mark. 



It is the most common crab found on the shores of Japan, its geo- 

 graphical limits extending from 42° north latitude to the coast of 

 China, in latitude 23° X. We took it at Hongkong, at Loo Choo, 

 Ousima, and Kikaisima, at the Bonin Islands, Kagosima Bay, 

 Simoda, the northeast coast of Xiphon, and in Hakodadi Bay. 



It seems to reach a larger size progressively as we go north, the 

 largest being from Hakodadi, in one of which the carapax measures 

 1.02 inches in length and 1.23 inches in breadth. The Loo Choo 

 specimens are remarkable in being of a deep purplish-red color, with 

 feet tipped with orange, fingers tipped with white. 



214. PLATYGRAPSUS CONVEXIUSCULUS' Stimpson 



Plate XVn, Fig. 3 



Platygrafsus convcxiusculus Stimpson, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., x, 

 p. 104 [50], 1858. 



This species will be best described by a comparison with P. depres- 

 sus, to which it is very closely allied. The carapax is broader and 



^ Gccticc Gistel, Natur. Thierreichs, p. x, 1848, substituted for Platynotns 

 de Haan, preoccupied. 

 ' Gcetice depressus (De Haan). 

 ^ Gcetice convexmsciihis (Stimpson). 



