ON MYSIS. 31 



were full of this species in the month of August, s^vimming; 

 with its head uppermost, and its eyes spread, making a 

 most grotesque appearance. 



3Iysis 2)elagkuSy This is the species described by Otho 

 Fabricius under the title of Cancer pedatus,* its charac- 

 ters would require to be more clearly pointed out, so as 

 to distinguish it from M. vulgaris, to which it appears to 

 approximate. It is described as of a pale colour, one inch 

 in length, and of a very compressed form ; the anterior 

 scales oblong, pointed, and ciliated ; the middle lamina of 

 the tail with two short spines at its extremity united at 

 their base ; occupies the surface of the sea at Greenland 

 in great numbers, rarely found either at the bottom or 

 near to the shore ; swims on its hack, and forms together 

 with the M. Fabricii, the chief food of the great Northern 

 Whale. 



Naturalists who may have opportunities of observing 

 the ill -defined species of Mysis, or such as appear new, 

 will do well to attend minutely to the form of the anterior 

 scales, the form and armature of the scales which compose 

 the tail, and the shape of the anterior part of the corselet, 

 adding such information in regard to colour and habitudes, 

 particularly their mode of swimming, as may assist iu 

 discriminating them. 



* Fauna Groenl. p. 221. Cancer macrourus ; thorace laevi, compresso, fronte 

 praerupta, pedibus pectoris duplici serie ; uianibus adactylis ; Cauda recta 

 apice aculeato, tetiaphyllo. 



