llev. T. R. E. Stebbing on the true Podocerus. 237 



XXXVII. — On the true Podocerus and some new Genera of 

 Ampldpods. By the Rev. Thomas R. R. Stebbing, 

 M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S. 



In the family Podoceridse it may well be supposed that the 

 genus Podocerus ought to maintain the position which it has 

 so long held unquestioned. To rebut this presumption it is 

 necessary to weigh carefully the words used by Leach when 

 instituting in 1814 (or 1813) the two genera Podocerus and 

 Jassa. In his well-known article " Crustaceology " he 

 combines these two in the second section of the family, his 

 account commencing thus : — 



" Superior antennae shorter than the under ones ; the 

 last joint scarcely articulated. 



" Genus XI. Podocerus. Eyes hemispherical and some- 

 what prominent; four anterior feet didactyle, anterior pair 

 smallest with an elongate-subovate hand; second pair with 

 an ovate hand, and the internal side nearly strait. 



" Sp. 1. Variegatus. Body, legs, and antennas beautifully 

 variegated with red. 



"■Podocerus variegatus, Leach's MSS. 



" Inhabits the rocky shores of Devon, walking about on 

 fuci and corallines with its antennas as well as legs. 



"GENUS XII. JASSA. Eyes not prominent; four anterior 

 feet didactyle with ovate hands ; the anterior pair smallest ; 

 the hand of the second pair with the internal edge furnished 

 with teeth." 



Then follows the account of Jassa pulchella, with two 

 varieties, from Devonshire, and of Jassa pelagica " from the 

 Bell Rock in the German Sea," and a note that "Cancer 

 Gammarus falcatus of Montagu, Lin. Trans, vol. ix. tab. 5. 

 fig. 2. seems referable to this genus." 



From 1830 to the present time we have all with one 

 consent accepted the view that Leach did not know what he 

 was talking about, and most of us have believed that his two 

 genera were one and the same. Some authors have held 

 that all the three species above mentioned were simply 

 synonyms of Montagu's falcatus. The real fact is that they 

 may without impropriety be taken as representatives of three 



