224 Guide to Belfast. 



ceans ; but the late William Thompson of Belfast, aided 

 by Templeton, Hyndman, and Drummond, made a splendid 

 collection of the species living on the shores of the north- 

 eastern counties, which is still preserved in the Museum 

 of the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society.^ 



The Spider Crab (hiachiis scorpio) appears to be common 

 in Belfast Lough, while /. dorynchus and /. leptochirus are 

 much rarer. Euryjwme aspera, Pirwieia de?i/tcu/ata, and 

 Xantho rhnilosus have not been taken in the lough, but 

 occur on the northern coasts of Antrim. Specimens of the 

 Great Crab (Cancer pagurus), weighing 9 lbs., have been 

 obtained from Belfast Lough. Of the genera of Crabs, 

 Cardfius, PIato?iyc]ius and Poiiunus, the only common 

 species in Belfast Lough are Carciniis mce/ias, Portunus 

 puber., P. depu?-atot\ and P. pusillus. The rare Gonoplax 

 angulata has occurred once at Bangor, Co. Down, while 

 three species o{ Ebalia, an Afekcyclus, and the only European 

 species of Corystes have been occasionally taken near Belfast. 



As regards the Hermit Crabs, the neighbourhood of 

 Belfast seems to be particularly rich in them, and the late 

 W. Thompson discovered no less than five species new to 

 science, three of which (viz., Eupagurus uHdiamis, E. 

 Hyndmamii, and E. lavis) were described by himself from 

 specimens obtained at Portaferry, Co. Down. Two others 

 (viz., Eupagurus cuatiensis and E. Thompsoni) were dredged 

 in Belfast Lough, the latter species being named after its 

 discoverer by Thomas Bell. 



Most of the species of Poirellajia and Galathea are 

 common in the district, except G. nexa, which has only 

 been obtained from the stomach of a Cod. The rare 

 Munida rugosa, Gebia deltitra, and Callianassa subterranea 

 have only been taken in this manner. 



The Freshwater Crayfish (Asiacus fluviatilis)^ so much 

 appreciated as a culinary delicacy by our continental neigh- 

 bours, is little esteemed in Ireland, and, indeed, few people 

 know even of its existence, although it is common within 

 ten miles of Belfast, in the small stream which enters 

 Lough Neagh at Antrim, and known as the "Six-mile Water." 



1 W. Thompson. — The Crustacea Decapoda of Ireland. Annals Nat. 

 Hist., vols. X and xi, 1842-1843. 



