Podocerus and Jassa of Leach. 395 



and supposing him to be right in uniting Cyrtophium Dar- 

 winii, Bate, with that species, we were not satisfied with the 

 identity of the specimen. It seems, however, that Sars was in 

 error in uniting these two species ; and when, on reaching 

 home a few days later, I had an opportunity of examining 

 specimens of G. Darwinii from the Devonshire coast, I had 

 no longer any doubt of their identity with the British Museum 

 specimen. It is therefore clear that Milne-Edwards's P. varie- 

 gatus is Platophium Darwinii (Bate) ; and as it agrees in its 

 prominent eyes and the apparently nearly straight side of the 

 hand of the second gnathopods with Leach's description much 

 more closely than does P.falcatus (Mont.) $ , the conclusion 

 arrived at by Mr. Stebbing seems irresistible. 



As regards the question Mr. Stebbing raises, whether Jassa 

 falcata (Mont.) should be superseded by Jassa pulchella, 

 Leach, on the ground that the former species " remains .... 

 indeterminate," I am " bold " enough to say that I have no 

 doubt that Montagu's species is the immature male of Leach's 

 Jassa pulchella. As the author of Podocerus Ilerdmani 

 (P. odontonyx, G. O. Sars), I can hardly be suspected of a 

 bias in the direction of destroying that species ; yet the expe- 

 rience gained since it was established has satisfied me that 

 neither size nor the depth of water at which a species may 

 have been taken are characters of any value. For instance, 

 the largest specimen of Jassa falcata (Mont.) in my collec- 

 tion (an adult male measuring 10 millim. in length) was 

 taken in 50 fathoms off Holyhead, while I have specimens of 

 the so-called P. Herdmani from quite shallow water. The 

 above large specimen has a distinct tooth on the dactylus, and 

 I have specimens with the tooth of various degrees of promi- 

 nence. The length of Montagu's specimen is given as 5 lines 

 (say 10 millim.), but as he gives the length of Oammarus 

 locusta, Linn., in the same paper as 1 inch (25 millim.), which 

 is not only longer than the largest specimen I have from these 

 coasts, but also than the maximum size given by Sars 

 (20 millim.) for specimens from the Norway coast, it is quite 

 possible that he may have included the antennae in his measure- 

 ment. 1 will therefore conclude by expressing a hope that 

 the time-honoured specific name of falcata (Montagu) may 

 be spared to us in the general wreck of the Podocerida3. 



Colwyn Bay, 

 April 5, 1899. 



