Narrative of Bahama Expedition. 123 



ceeding the body in length. Like the ambulatory legs, this 

 rostrum is armed with a row of thorn-like spines on either 

 side. The chelipeds are greatl\' elongated and equal in size. 

 Numbers of these spider-like crabs were caught on the piling 

 around an old wharf, which seemed to be their favorite resort. 

 Some dexterity was required in their capture, but a skillful 

 use of the crab-net resulted in an extensive series. JMacro- 

 CiPloiiia /n'spinosa (Latr.j, although belonging to the maioid 

 group of Crustacea, is as different from the last in general 

 appearance as it well could be, having an exceedingly heavy 

 bod}' and short legs, each terminating in a strong hooked claw. 

 The space between the eyes is very great, and the eyes them- 

 selves small and bead-like. 



Pcriccra cornnta cccJata (A. M. E.) has two divergent spines 

 on the rostrum, and the body covered with curved filaments 

 resembling booklets, doubtless of service in attaching foreign 

 substances to the carapace for purposes of concealment. One 

 species of Othonia was secured, with curioush' excavated 

 chela', and five species of the genus Alil/irax. the largest being 

 31. hispidiis (Herbst.) of a rich reddish brown color, with very 

 strong curved spines on the lateral margin of the carapace. 

 Mithrax forceps Milne Edw. has ver^- slender fingers to the 

 •cheias, and a peculiar conical tooth on the inner face of the 

 movable finger, in which it resembles J/, coronatns (Herbst.). 

 The habit so prevalent among maioid crabs of covering them- 

 selves with foreign substances for concealment, is well illus- 

 trated by our specimens of MicropJirys bicorniitiis (Latreille). 

 Avhich has the carapace covered with a dense growth of a 

 lilamentous alga intermixed with sand and bits of broken shell. 



One of the most striking crustaceans in the collection is 

 Platvlauibnis scrratus (M. Edw.), a species widely distributed 

 in the West Indian region. The chelipeds are remarkabh" 

 developed, each one probably equaling the body in bulk. 

 They are greatly flattened and armed along both edges with 

 .sharp spines. The hand especially is greatly elongated, tri- 

 angular in section, and enlarged at its distal end, upon which 

 are inserted the small black claws. When folded, the spines 



