310 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



[Maiians. 



•mail and short, the orbits circular ; the rostrum is 

 small, and notched, or bifid. The anterior limbs, 

 longer than in Doclea, are less developed than in 

 some of the following genera. The species, as far 

 as known, are all natives of the seas of America. 



Fig. 3160 represents the Libinia spinosa, from the 

 coasts of Brazil, a, the under side of the head in 

 detail ; b, the abdomen of the female. 



The next genus is Herbstia, which has the cara- 

 pace more triangular than Libinia. The rostrum is 

 short and bitid, the orbits oval ; the eyes large and 

 retractile. The fore-limbs in the male are long and 

 •tout, exceeding the second pair, which in the fe- 

 male they only equal. One species only is known, 

 Herbstia' con'dyliata (Fig. 3161). This singular 

 crab is a native of the Mediterranean ; it is about 

 two inches in length, has the body covered with 

 fine down, and is of a reddish colour. 



The genus Pisa here comes in. In this form the 

 rostrum projects considerably, and is bifid, and at 

 its base are two other and shorter spines, one on 

 each side occupying the anterior part of the orbital 

 border. The eyes are carried on short peduncles, 

 and bent backwards in the orbits, which are of an 

 oval shape, and directed outwards and downwards. 

 In the male the anterior limbs are long and stout, 

 exceeding the second pair in length, but only equal- 

 ling them in the female. The claws are finely den- 

 tilated on their terminal portion. Of the succeeding 

 limbs the last joint is regularly pectinated with 

 horny points. Some species have spiniforra teeth 

 on the third and fourth joints of the four last pairs 

 of limbs. Among these is the Pisa tetraodon (Fig. 

 3162). This species is common on the English and 

 French coasts, living at considerable depths, and 

 oflen dredged up by fishermen. After spring-tides- 

 they are frequently found hidden under stones at 

 low water. The length is three inches ; the body 

 is entirely covered with down and some crooked 

 hairs. 6eneral colour brown. The difference 

 which exists between the male and female will be 

 at once appreciated by referring to our pictorial 

 specimens : a, the male ; 4, the female ; c, abdomen 

 of female ; d, abdomen of male ; e, antenna ; /, pe- 

 dipalp, or jaw-foot. 



It has been observed that the Pisae are covered 

 with hairs, which are recurved at the end, and are 

 hence apt to catch up foreign bodies, as the fibres of 

 delicate seaweeds, sponges, &c., with which the 

 body becomes as it were veiled ; it is very probable 

 that, thus disguised, they are the better enabled to 

 surprise their prey, and to escape the observations 

 of their numerous enemies. 



Closely allied to Pisa is the genus Lissa of Dr. 

 Leach, the principal distinguishing character con- I 

 8isting in the disposition of the rostrum, which is 

 formed of two lamellose horns, truncated and wider 

 anteriorly than at the base. There are no spines on 

 the limbs. Fig. 3163 represents the Lissa chiragra, 

 so called from the singular swellings and tuberosi- 

 ties with which it is covered, especially on the limbs, 

 and which suggested the term chiragra (gouty on 

 the hands). It is a native of the Mediterranean, 

 but is occasionally found more northward, and said 

 to have been taken on the coast of Cornwall. Re- 

 ferring to Fig. 3163, a is the abdomen of the female ; 

 6, the abdomen of the male ; c, one of the antennse. 

 Another closely allied form is that termed by Dr. 

 Leach, Hyas. The first joint of the external an- 

 tennee is flattened instead of being cylindrical ; the 

 rostrum is bifid, each part being acute ; the orbits 

 are directed somewhat forwards. We select as an 

 example the Hyas coarctata. Fig. 3164. This 

 crab IS found in the British Channel, and is about 

 two inches in length. The carapace is strongly 

 contracted (coarctate) beneath the external orbital 

 angles. The general colour is reddish. The differ- 

 ences between the male and female may be easily 

 appreciated by referring to the pictorial specimens : 

 a, the male ; b, the female. 



M. Milne Edwards describes a genus under the 

 name of Naxia, which he regards as nearly related 

 to the genera Pisa and Lissa, but to be distinguished 

 by the disposition of the antennae and orbits ; the 

 rostrum closely resembles that of Lissa. The orbits 

 are small, nearly circular, deep, and marked with 

 a fissure above and below, but without any hiatus 

 at their inferior border. The basal joint of the ex- 

 ternal antennse is wide, narrowing forwards, and 

 hidden beneath the rostrum. 



Fig. 3165 represents Naxia serpulifera, one third 

 its natural size, a, the under side of the head in 

 detail ; b, one of the protruding parts of the rostrum 

 with the eye in profile ; c, abdomen of female. 

 This species is a native of the shores of New Hol- 

 land, and is about four inches in length. The body 

 is invested with brownish downy hairs, and the cara- 

 pace is often encrusted with serpulae, flustrsB, 

 sponges, &c. 



Another remarkable genus of the Maiians is 

 Chorinus (Leach). The rostrum consists of two 

 large pointed horizontal horns ; the eyes are reti-ac- 

 tile, and the orbits directed downwards. The ante- 



rior limbs are long, especially in the males ; and the 



claw strongly curved inwards, dentilated, and 



pointed. The succeeding limbs are cylindrical ; 



those next ifi the claw-limbs being of great length 



in the male. 



Fig. 3166 represents the Chorinus Heros, one-half 



I of the natural size. It varies in length from two 



l' to three inches, or rather more. Colour, yellowish 



red ; rostrum, sides of carapace, and four last limbs 



hairy. 



The singular genus Mithrax (Leach) here requires 

 notice. The carapace is rather convex above, and 

 narrowed anteriorly ; the rostrum is short and bifid ; 

 the orbits are armed at their superior border with 

 two or three spines, one at their external angle, 

 and one or two at their inferior border ; the margin 

 of the carapace anteriorly is spiny. Anterior limbs 

 generally rather robust in the male. The species of 

 this genus are mostly limited to the seas of America, 

 and some attain to considerable dimensions. We 

 select as an example a species from the coasts of 

 the Balearic Islands, viz., Mithrax dichotomus. Fig. 

 3167. It measures about two inches in length, and 

 is of a yellowish colour. An allied genus (Parami- 

 thrax) is distributed through the Australasian 

 Seas. 



The genus Maia next succeeds. The carapace is 

 rough with multitudinous spines and tubercles ; the 

 rostrum is horizontal and bifid, each branch diverg- 

 ing ; the orbits are oval and deep. The anterior 

 limbs are moderate, and somewhat cylindrical. The 

 second joint of the lateral antennae seems to spring 

 from the internal angle of the orbitar cavity. Ge- 

 neral figure oval. 



The Maia Squinado, common on our coasts and 

 those of Europe, has been known from a remote pe- 

 riod, and was figured on coins and medals. The 

 ancients attributed to it great sagacity, and believed 

 it sensible to the charms of music. As an emblem 

 of wisdom, it was sculptured suspended from the 

 neck of Diana, the goddess of the Ephesians. 



Fig. 3168 represents this species, which attains to 

 a considerable size. It is often dredged up in the 

 British Channel, but it is not in any request as an 

 article of food, though the fishermen sometimes eat 

 it. Referring to Fig. 3168, b represents a young fe- 

 male ; c, abdomen of female ; d, abdomen of male ; 

 e, one of the antennae ; /, pedipalp. Passing from 

 form to form, we pause to notice a genus, Micippa 

 (Leach), which at first seems far removed from those 

 around it. The carapace is not narrowed anteriorly, 

 and appears as if truncate at its margin ; if, how- 

 ever, we look underneath, we find a lamellose ros- 

 trum directed vertically downwards, so as to form a 

 right angle with the axis of the body ; on the sides 

 of this rostrum are placed the orbits, fissured above. 

 The ocular peduncles are retractile ; the sides of 

 the carapace are spined ; the limbs are moderate, 

 the first pair small ; the external antennae are large. 

 The species are found in the Indian Seas, and about 

 the coasts of the Isle of France. Fig. 3169 repre- 

 sents the Micippa Philyra. It is about two inches 

 in length. Equally remarkable is the genus Crio- 

 carcinus (Gm'rin), the upper outline of which may 

 be more readily understood by referring to our pic- 

 torial specimen, Fig. 3170, than by mere description : 

 anteriorly the carapace pushes out into a bifid ros- 

 trum, each part taking an outward cui-ve ; from each 

 side of the head stands out a toothed process, at 

 least in the example selected ; the sides are opened, 

 and the posterior margin terminates in an acute pro- 

 jection. The orbitar cavities are nearly in the form 

 of a long and truncated tube directed outwards ; 

 but they do not sheath the eyes, which terminate 

 each a long slender peduncle, inserted so as to be 

 completely exposed and capable of reflection back- 

 wards, when it is concealed under the orbital pro- 

 jection of the carapace. 



The Criocarcinus superciliosus (Fig. 3170) is of 

 small size, being about an inch and a half in length. 

 Its exact locality is not ascertained. 



Among the strange forms of this curious tribe is 

 the genus Pericera. The rostrum branches out into 

 two spines, and similar though smaller spines are 

 ranged along each side. The orbits are circular, 

 small, and deep, and sheath the ocular peduncles. 

 The basal joint of the external antennae is very 

 large. The anterior limbs are cylindrical. The 

 species, as far as ascertained, are natives of the seas 

 of the Antilles. 



Fig. 3171 represents the Pericera cornuta (Cancer 

 cornudo, Herbert ; the horned crab of Hughes). 



It is from three to four inches long, and covered 

 with a plush of brownish hairs. 



Immediately related to the preceding is the ge- 

 nus Stenocinops. The rostrum consists of two long 

 horns, and a similar horn projects over each orbit. 

 The ocular stems are long, delicate, and immoveable. 

 The limbs are slender. The carapace projects pos- 

 teriorly. Fig. 3172 represents the female of Steno- 

 cinops cervicornis, the only known species. It is a 

 native of the coasts of the Isle of France, a shows 

 the under side in detail ; b, the termination of one 



of the first pair of feet ; c, the termination of one oi 

 the succeeding feet. 



A genus termed Halimus by Latreille now follows. 

 It is characterized, he says, by the peduncles of the 

 eyes being retractile within the orbits (lbs.settes), 

 and protected behind by a tooth-like process or 

 angle of the lateral borders of the carapace. The 

 second joint of the external antenna; is longer than 

 the following, and they are terminated by a short 

 stem. To this we may add that the rostrum pro- 

 jects in the form of two divergent horns. The spe- 

 cies are natives of the Indian Seas. 



We select as an example the Halimus .'\ries (Fig. 

 3173). It is about an inch in length, a shows the 

 under surface of the head in detail ; b. the eye, 

 orbit, and spinous protection ; c, one of the jaw-!eet. 

 .'Another genus referable to this tribe is Acanthonyx 

 (Latreille). In many points it approaches Halimus. 

 The orbits are circular, the rostrum bifid. Of the 

 four posterior pair of limbs, the penultimate joint 

 is enlarged, and notched near the end with a Itairv 

 tooth, against which the last joint, in the form of a 

 sharp hooked claw, can be bent back for the pur- 

 pose of clinging. The species are widely spread ; 

 some are found in the Mediterranean, others in seas 

 of South Africa, and othew on the coasts of the .\n- 

 tilles. 



The Acanthonyx lunulatus frequents the coast 

 of Provence and the Bay of Naples, inhabiting the 

 crevices of rocks covered with fronds of seaweed. 

 It is scarcely an inch in length. It is represented 

 at Fig. 3174. «, the head in detail, viewed from 

 beneath : b, the eye ; c, the termination of one of 

 the second pair of limbs ; <i, one of the antennae 

 magnified. 



Approximated to the latter genus is one termed 

 by Milne Edwards Epialtus. The carapace is some- 

 what hexagonal, convex, and smooth; the rostrum 

 is triangular, narrow, and scarcely, if at all, divided. 

 The eyes are very short, and the orbits circular. 

 The antennae are minute ; the external jaw-lcet 

 large ; the anterior limbs rather stout, the second 

 pair longer than the succeeding, which indeed are 

 short. 



This form, as far as we know, is confined to some 

 parts of the South America coast, as Chili. 



Fig. 3175 represents the Epialtus tuberculatus, a. 

 minute species, about four lines long, and of a 

 brownish yellow. 



An allied genus is one termed by Milne Edwards 

 Leucippa. The carapace is smooth with lateral 

 angular points ; the rostrum is broad, and formeil of 

 two slips or lamellae; the orbits are incomplete; 

 the eyes are small and set on short peduncles. 

 The external antennae are rather long ; the limbs 

 short and compressed. This form, as far as is 

 ascertained, belongs to the Pacific Ocean. Fig. 

 3176 represents the Leucippa pentagona, a minute 

 crustacean only four lines in length, and of a pale 

 grey, a shows the under surface of the head greatly 

 magnified. 



We now pass to a singular genus, Egeria (Leach),, 

 the affinities of which are not very clearly esta- 

 blished. In the extraordinary length of the limbs 

 it agrees with the Macropodians ; but other point* 

 are yet doubtful. If, says Desmares, the number 

 of articulations composing the abdomen were seven, 

 it would be nearly approximated to Maia. Pisa, 

 Mithrax, and Micippa, in the form of its body ; but 

 if the number of articulations composing it be six, 

 it would bear great relationship to Macropodia, 

 Leptopodia, Doclea, &c. The species described, 

 Egeria Indica, Fig. 3177, very much resembles 

 Inachus Scorpio (Fig. 3108), but the claws are 

 slender, and the other limbs more elongated. The 

 antennae are short, and inserted on the sides of the 

 rostrum. The latter is moderate, and deejjly bifid 

 with diverging points. The eyes are larger than 

 their peduncles. The species in question is a native 

 of the Indian Seas. 



To the Maiians is allied another tribe, called by 

 Milne Edwards Parthenopians. The carapace is 

 ordinarily triangular ; the rostrum small and entire, 

 or only notched at the end ; the eyes are nearly 

 always perfectly retractile. The basal joint of the 

 external antennae is in general short; the anterior 

 limbs are much developed, and in the male are 

 often long, with the claw curved. The other limbs 

 are short. The number of joints varies on the 

 abdomen of the male, but in the female there are 

 always seven. These crustaceans are widely dis- 

 tributed; some are found in the British Seas and 

 those of the adjacent continent, others in the seas 

 of India. 



The first genus is Eumedonus. The carapace is 

 nearly pentagonal ; the body depressed ; the rostrum 

 wide, much advanced, and notched anteriorly ; 

 the eyes are on short peduncles tilling the orbits, 

 which are circular. The internal antenn<-c are bent 

 obliquely outwards ; the external antennae are but 

 little developed. Abdominal stg.nients in the male, 

 seven. 



Fig. 3178 represents the Eumedcnus niger, a 



