192 JULY. 



the Squat-lobsters constitute an intermediate group 

 between the short-tailed and the long-tailed Crustacea, 

 the Flat-crabs inclining to the one, the Squats to the 

 other alliance. When the abdomen is wrapped-in, the 

 outline of the Squat is nearly oval, particularly in the 

 commonest species, the Olive or Scaly Squat. 1 That of 

 the Scarlet or Embleton's species 2 is a longer ellipse. 

 The front runs out into several sharp spines, as do also 

 the edges of the carapace ; and the inner edges of the 

 front limbs, which carry long and stout claws, are very 

 spiny. More formidably armed in this respect, how- 

 ever,, than either, is another species, found occasionally 

 at low-water, the Painted or Spinous Squat, 3 all the 

 limbs being set, on both edges, with stout sharp prickles. 

 The last named is the largest kind, being sometimes 

 four inches long ; then the Olive, which is commonly 

 from two to two and a half ; while the Scarlet rarely 

 exceeds an inch and a half. They differ very much in 

 colour, the Olive being of a dull blackish green, with 

 narrow transverse lines of pale yellowish ; the Painted 

 somewhat of the same general hue, but with the eyes 

 and the tips of the claws of the most vivid scarlet, 

 while the body is varied with lines and spots of an 



1 Galathea squamifera, represented in Plate xxi., at the left hand, in 

 the act of shooting backward. 



2 O. nexa, for which see the right-hand corner of the same Plate. 

 * Q. strigosa. 



