* GALATHEID^. 85 



All the Crustacea of this suborder are essentially swim- 

 mers. They walk but little, and do not leave the water. 

 The abdomen and the great fan-like tail are the principal 

 organs of locomotion. 



Fam. GALATHEIBjE, M. Edw. 



Outer antennae without movable plate. Body depressed ; 

 the fifth pair of legs very slender, not fitted for locomotion, 

 and folded back above the base of the preceding pair. The 

 carapace is depressed and rather wide, but is longer than 

 broad; it ends in a beak which projects more or less, and 

 covers the base of the eye-peduncles. The front legs are 

 large, and terminate in a well-formed pair of fingers. The 

 abdomen is as wide as the carapace, and longer than that 

 part. This family seems to connect the Macroura and Ano- 

 moura; and indeed, by many naturalists it is regarded as a 

 portion of the Porcellanicla. Yery little is known of the 

 habits of the species of this family. A curious species, the 

 Grimothea gregaria, was found, on Captain Cook's voyage, 

 in great shoals off the coast of Patagonia, where, from the 

 softness and delicacy of its covering, it must form most 

 acceptable food to many a fish and sea-bird. Mr. Couch, 

 in a communication to Professor Bell on the habits of one 



