EPICAKIDITA. 253 



Berwickshire, found by the late Dr. Johnston on codfish, 

 and on the coast of Northumberland, by Mr. Howse. 



Tribe EPICAEIDITA. 



The species of this curious tribe are all completely para- 

 sitic, and confined to members of the same class. The 

 females gradually grow larger and more deformed, while the 

 males remain very small, and in their structure have more 

 resemblance, than their partners, to the ordinary Isopoda. 

 In both, the antennae are more or less rudimentary; the feet 

 are very short, and adapted for laying hold. The abdomen 

 is slightly developed, and is gradually contracted to the ex- 

 tremity ; its sixth segment is very small and without appen- 

 dages, or furnished only with two membranous unjointed 

 filaments; the mouth is furnished with lamellar jaw-feet 

 and mandibles which have no palpi; all the parts of the 

 mouth seem adapted for suction, as well as for the division 

 of solid food. In the male, the body is formed of thirteen 

 or fourteen distinct joints; one forming the head, seven 

 the thorax, and five or six the abdomen. In the females, 

 the rings of the abdomen, and even those of the whole 



