554 COLLECTIONS FROM THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN. 



seems to be most nearly allied to Pseudodromia, Stimpson*, of which 

 I have seen no specimens, but is distinguished by the flattened cara- 

 pace, the different form of the front, which joins the autennulary 

 septum, and the much shorter fifth ambulatory legs. 



3. Homalodromia coppingeri. (Plate L. fig. B.) 



Carapace (in the female) flattened above, with the frontal region 

 slightly deflexed, the sides convergent to the posterior margin from 

 the hepatic regions. The front is about one-half of the greatest 

 width of the carapace ; the two lobes of which it is composed are 

 separated to their bases by a rather wide interspace, and each lobo 

 has a wide and rather shallow excavation at its distal extremity, 

 with the antero -lateral angles produced and spiniform. There is a 

 small spine or tooth at the exterior orbital angle, and one at the 

 inner inferior orbital angle. The sternal tubercles are somewhat 

 elongated and divergent from their bases. The ejes are deeply set 

 in the small orbits. The second peduncular joint of the antennas 

 terminates in two spines, and thus appears furcated at its distal ex- 

 tremity ; the antennal flagella are considerably elongated. The 

 merus-joint of the outer maxillipedes is about as long as the 

 ischium-joint, and widens somewhat to its distal extremity, which 

 is truncated ; it bears the next joint at the inner end of its distal 

 margin ; the narrow, straight exoguath reaches to the distal end 

 of the merus. The chelipedes (in the female) are rather shorter 

 and little more robust than the following joints, with the arm 

 and merus short and unarmed, wrist with two spines on its 

 outer surface near the distal extremity; palm about as long as fingers, 

 rounded above and below, and without spines ; fingers dentated on 

 their inner margins and at the semi-excavated distal extremity ; 

 the second and third legs are without spiues or tubercles, with the 

 dactyli slightly shorter than the penultimate joints, terminating in 

 a corneous claw, and bearing, as already stated, two or three accessory 

 spinules ; in the fourth legs the strongly curved dactyl is unarmed 

 and about equals the penultimate joint in length ; in the fifth legs 

 the merus is slender and elongated, longer than the following joint ; 

 the spiniform process of the penultimate joint is strongly curved and 

 constitutes with the dactyl a perfectly formed prehensile organ. 

 Colour (in spirit) pinkish ; the body is everywhere closely pubescent: 

 longer hairs clothe the margins of the carapace at the hepatic 

 regions and the margins of the postabdominal segments and legs. 

 Length of the carapace of the single example (an adult female) 

 to end of rostrum nearly 3| lines (7 millim.), breadth a little less : 

 length of first ambulatory leg about 4| lines (nearly 11 millim.) ; of" 

 fifth leg 3|- lines (nearly 8 millim.). 



The single specimen was collected at Providence Peef, 24 fins. 

 (No. 215), and has the carapace somewhat crushed on the dorsal 

 surface and the fifth ambulatory legs detached. 



* Proe. Acad. Nat. Soi. Philad. p. 22."' (1^.,- 



