Miscellaneous. 187 



each is folded up and lies in a groove on the latero-posterior surface 

 of the carapax. The external maxillipeds have almost exactly the 

 same structure as in the adult Oajpoda ; and, as in the adult Ocy- 

 poda, there is a tuft of pecuhar hairs between the bases of the second 

 and third ambulatory legs. This megalops is common upon the coast 

 of the Southern States ; it has been found at Block Island ; and I have 

 myself collected it, late in August, at Fire-Island Beach, Long 

 Island. In the largest specimen from the last locality the carapax is 

 9-4 millims. long and 5-6 broad. 



A large number of young specimens of the Ocypoda, coUeeted at 

 Fire-Island Beach, indicate plainly that they had only recently 

 changed from this megalops. Some of the smallest of these specimens, 

 in which the carapax is 5-6-6-0 miUims. long and 6-1-6-5 broad, 

 differ from the adult so much that they might very easily be mistaken 

 for a different species. The carapax is very slightly broader than 

 long, and very convex above. The front is broad, not narrowed be- 

 tween the bases of the ocular peduncles, and triangular at the extre- 

 mity. The margin of the orbit is not transverse, but inclines obliquely 

 backward. The ambulatory legs are nearly naked ; and those of the 

 posterior pair are proportionally much smaller than in the adult. 



The adult Ocypoda is terrestrial in its habits, living in deep holes 

 above high- water mark on sandy beaches ; but the young in the zoea 

 state are undoubtedly deposited in the water, where they lead a free- 

 swimming existence like true pelagic animals, until they become full- 

 grown in the megalops state. Say mentions that his specimens were 

 found cast upon the beach by the refluent tide and " appeared desi- 

 rous to protect themselves by burrowing in the sand, in order to 

 wait the return of the tide ;" but they were more likely awaiting the 

 final change to the terrestrial state. The tufts of peculiar hairs be- 

 tween the bases of the second and third ambulatory legs, and in the 

 adult connected with the respiration, are present in the full-grown 

 megalops, and are undoubtedly provided to fit the animal for its ter- 

 restrial existence as soon as it is thi'own upon the shore. The young 

 in the megalops stage occur on the shore of Long Island in August, 

 and perhaps earlier. At Fire-Island Beach, in 1870, no specimens 

 of Ocypoda were discovered till the last of August : and those first 

 found were the smallest ones obtained ; by the middle of September, 

 however, they were common on the outer beach, and many of them 

 were twice as large as those first obtained. Although careful search 

 was made along the beach for several miles, not a specimen of the 

 adult or half-grown crab could be found. Every individual there 

 had evidently landed and developed during the season. Probably all 

 those living the year before had perished during the winter; and it is 

 jjossible that this species never survives long enough to attain its full 

 growth so far north. — Amer. Journ. of Science and Arts, July 187H. 



Tlie Torpedo or Ehctrtcal Ray. 



A specimen of this remarkable and somewhat rare fish was brought 

 up in the trawl yesterday off Portland. It was about 40 inches in 

 length. 



Weymouth, July 10, 1873. R. Damox. 



