58 HISTORY OF BRITISH CRUSTACEA. 



specimens they are not much longer than those of the fe- 

 males., in which they are about twice the length of the shell. 



Fam. GRAPSIDJC, Bell. 



Carapace square. Eye-stalks very short. Front very wide, 

 occupying nearly half of the fore margin of the carapace. 

 Abdomen of male with the second joint nearly as wide as 

 corresponding part of breast, and reaching nearly to the 

 base of hind legs. 



A most widely distributed family, containing a great num- 

 ber of species chiefly found in the warmer parts of the globe. 

 The species here recorded can only be considered as an acci- 

 dental visitor. 



Mr. Macleay, in the first volume of the e Transactions 

 of the Zoological Society/* alludes to two species of this 

 family as characteristic objects in "the general appearance 

 of a sandy seashore in the island of Cuba ; . . . when every 

 object to the dazzled eye seems quivering under the broiling 

 sun," the Goniopsis ruricola and Grapsus pictus maybe seen 

 running over the seaweed that has been left by the tide. 

 The former of these usually inhabits the muddy mouths of 

 rivers or mangrove marshes in bays, while the Grapsus fre- 

 * Vol. i. p. 184. 



