GONOPLAX. 57 



Gen. 17. GONOPLAX, Leach. 



Eye-stalks very long. Carapace much wider than long. 

 Front legs of the adult male nearly five times the length of 

 the carapace ; in female about twice the length of carapace. 

 Abdomen of male with seven distinct joints, as in the female. 



The Mediterranean species, which is allied to ours, was 

 observed by Eisso to swim with great ease, and often to 

 come to the surface of the water, without however ever 

 leaving it. It feeds on small fishes and radiated animals. 



Gonoplaxangulata, Penn. sp. Angular Crab. (Plate IV. 

 fig. 2.) — Carapace armed on each side with two small spines 

 directed forwards. Arm cylindrical, spined about the middle 

 of its upper edge, the wrist with two spines. 



Coast of Devon and Cornwall. In the latter county, ac- 

 cording to Mr. Couch, it is common in moderately deep 

 water, and often in the stomachs of fishes. It has been 

 taken on the Irish coast. Mr. Cranch observes* that these 

 Crabs live in excavations formed in the hardened mud, and 

 that their habitations, at the extremities of which they live, 

 are open at each end. The fore legs of the adult male are 

 nearly five times the length of the carapace ; bat in younger 

 * Leach, Mai. Pod. Brit, t. 18. 



