480 CRABS OF THE FAMILY LITHODIDM— BENEDICT. 



A series of specimens from botli localities convinces me that tlie two 

 forms constitute good species. 



These two species and the species described next in order constitute 

 a group having in common a rostrum with a long median spine and 

 two basal spines and lacking the subrostral spine or horn usual in the 

 genus. 



The carapace of />. goodei is much more convex than that of L. agas- 

 sizii. The spines arise from the summit of large tubercles, and the sur- 

 face altogether lacks the small spines so thickly sprinkled over the 

 latter species. The spines of the rostrum like those of the carapace 

 are much longer than tkose of 7>. agassizii, and while the horn is want- 

 ing, its position is indicated by a slight protuberance. The autennal 

 scale is rudimentary, with the exception of a specimen from station 

 2203 on which it is rudimentary on the left side and well developed on 

 the right. 



On the second segment of the female abdomen there are about twelve 

 spines ranging in length from 12 to 20 mm. The large plates on the left 

 side of the abdomen are but little calcified in L. agassizii; in L. goodei, 

 they are much more firm. The conical tubercles are also better calcified 

 and fewer in number on the leathery portion. 



Another marked difterence between the two species lies in the very 

 much longer spines of the chelipeds and ambulatory legs. In the adult 

 specimen before me from station 2193, several spines on the carpal and 

 propodal Joints reach the great length of 43 mm.; on another specimen 

 they are but 30 mm. In our largest specimen of L. agassizii the spines 

 on these segments measure but five or six mm. A no less striking dif- 

 ference is seen in comparing the ambulatory legs of the two species, the 

 subcylindrical legs of L. goodei contrasting with the tlattened legs of 

 L. agassizii, the former free from spinules between the spines and the 

 latter thickly sprinkled with them. 



Young: In L. goodei the variation in length of spines from the young 

 to the adult is extreme. In a young specimen 70 mm. in length the 

 length of one of the si)ines at the base of the rostrum is -ll mm.; the 

 sx)iues of the carapace are from 32 to 38 mm, in length, 



T^/pe.— No. 8047, U.S.N.M.; female; oft' Nantucket Shoals; station 

 219G; 1,230 fathoms, 



LITHODES DIOMEDE.E, new species. 



This species is very close to L. goodei, but it is not difficult to sepa- 

 rate the two. Good specimens were obtained by the Albatross from 

 station 2789, off the southern part of Chile, in latitude 42° 36' S., No, 

 18526, U.S,]Sr.M. Numerous young Liihodes taken at station 2788, in 

 latitude 45° 35' S., No. 18527, LT.S.N.M., I have also referred to this 

 species. 



The si)ines of the carapace are not so long as those of L. gomlei, but 

 are more slender and similarly placed; their tubercular bases, aare not. 



