RATHBUN— MARINE BRACHYURA 203 



Carapace high in the middle, smooth ; a little longer than broad ; front prominent, 

 flattened above, anterior margin 4-lobed, lateral margin forming an obtuse re-entering 

 angle with hepatic margin, which is obscurely granulate ; a pronounced hepatic angle ; 

 hepatic region not dorsally swollen ; posterolateral margin with a fringe of short hair and 

 a slight concavity behind the lateral angle ; thickened epimeral edge visible in dorsal view 

 throughout its extent and continuous with the prominent posterior margin, both granulated ; 

 oblique surface below the latter smooth. 



Thoracic cavity deep ; defined anteriorly by the smooth, convex, overhanging margin 

 of the pterygostomian region ; covered with a mat of short spongy hair except on a large 

 suboval tubercle or lamina which projects outward from the base of the cavity. The 

 sternum bears a strong curved tooth directed outward, downward and forward at the outer 

 angle of the ischium of the endognath. 



Merus of chelipeds widens distally, its margins armed with large pearly tubercles, 

 three of which on the inner margin are larger and dentiform ; at the base there are one 

 or two large tubercles and some spongy hair above and inside, and a few granules below. 

 The palms are a little longer than wide, outer margin cristate, inner margin swollen, a few 

 obscure granules on basal lobe. Dactyl slightly longer than palm ; both fingers grooved, 

 separated to a point where they cross some distance from the tips, a small tooth near base 

 of immovable finger. 



The legs have two granulated crests below, the first leg two rows of granulations 

 above, the third and fourth legs one row above ; second leg absent. Propodi cristate on 

 both edges. 



Colour. — A spot of orange-brown on postero-lateral margin above first leg, a small spot 

 near posterior angle, two tiny spots near middle of posterior margin. Underside of body 

 and chelipeds sparingly speckled with same colour; touches of same on articulations of legs, 

 on top of merus- joints and about the middle of dactyli. 



This species comes in Alcock's key to the Indian species of Leucosia [op. cit., p. 211) 

 next to L. elata (p. 214), but is strikingly differentiated by the angular hepatic margin, 

 four-lobed or toothed front, and large tubercle in the thoracic sinus. 



26. Pseudophilyra melita de Man. 

 Pseudophihjra melita Alcock (2), p. 253. 



Cargados Carajos, 30 fms., Sta. B 13 ; 1 juv. 4 mm. long, 3'6 mm. wide. 

 The general features are those of the adult, but the outer lobe of the orbit is more 

 independent, and there is a slight nick in the buccal wall just below the orbit. 



27. Nursilia dentata Bell (Plate 15, fig. 6). 

 Nursilia dentata Alcock (2), p. 260. 



Cargados Carajos, 30 fms., Sta. B 15 ; 2 ? (1 ovig.): B 16; 1 ? ovig. : B 17; 2 $ 

 (1 ovig.). Seychelles, 44 fms., Sta. F 6; 1 ? juv.: 34 fms., Sta. F 7; 1 £. 



In these specimens there is a fourth median spine just above the posterior margin ; 

 the ends of the latter are as distinctly dentiform in the ? as in the $. The abdomen of 

 the male appears to have the first and second segments free, the first being partially 

 hidden by the carapace. 



