Narrative of Bahama Expedition. 159 



that of the true land-crabs of the Bahamas. Those from Sand 

 Key were most of them collected under the loose boards of 

 the floor of an outhouse, where they fairly swarmed. It is a 

 curious fact that these crabs are passionatel}' found of offal, 

 which will so attract them that the vicinity will quickly be 

 swarmincj with the hermits disoortinnf themselves much after 

 tfie manner of "tumble-bugs." Another hermit crab, Eiipa- 

 i^-unis d/sroidal/'s A. M. E. was brought up from a depth of 

 two hundred fathoms. 



The Macroura of the expedition have not vet been named, 

 but the collection, though small, contains some striking forms. 

 One species closely resembles the Mimida figured on page 

 43 of •• Three Cruises of the Blake." The chelipeds are 

 greatlv elongated, the fingers slender, and the back covered 

 with transverse corrugations. The rostral spine is very sharp, 

 and is flanked by a much shorter spine on each side. The 

 abdomen seems to be habitually flexed, while the last walk- 

 ing leg is carried over the back. A number of specimens 

 were brought up from a depth of about eighty fathoms. 

 Another species apparently allied to this had a central rostral 

 spine with two long sharp spines on each side. There is a 

 row of anteriorly directed spines on the edge of the cara- 

 pace, and one on each side of the first abdominal segment. 

 The last pair of walking legs are very minute, ^nd appear 

 at first glance to be lacking. A further investigation shows, 

 however, that they are tucked away out of sight under the 

 flexed abdomen. The chelipeds are much more spiny than 

 in the last species. Specimens of this form were dredged 

 from one hundred and two hundred fathoms. 



Perhaps the most beautiful Macrouran secured from the 

 Pourtales Plateau was a jVcniatocarcinus, which was of a 

 brilliant red color. It differs from JW cnsffcnis S. I. Smith 

 mainly in the much longer rostrum. This feature seems, 

 however, to be quite variable both in length and curvature. 

 In one specimen the rostrum is two and one-half inches long, 

 more than half the length of the thorax and abdomen com- 

 bined. In another it is very gracefully curved, and only an 



