Decapod Crustacea of Bermuda, Part II. 77 



Alphcus cdu'ardsii (pars) Rankin,* Crustacea Bermuda Is., Ann. N. Y. 

 Acad. Sci., xii, p. 539 (not pi. xvii, fig. 3, copied from De Mann). 



PLATE XXII, FIGURES i, 2, 4, a-c (photos). PLATE XXX, FIGURES i-ia, 

 2a-2e; it, No. 1760 (details, No. 1725). PLATE XXIV, FIGURES 7, 7a 

 (chelae) PLATE XXXIII, FIGURES i, 2, (large chela.) By A. H. V. 



The following description is based on specimens from Fort 

 Macon, N. C, and Florida, not far from Say's original locality. 

 They agree so well with the original description that there can be 

 little or no doubt of their identity. Most writers have confounded 

 two or more species, especially this and aniiillatus, under this name, 

 and the descriptions are rarely exact enough to determine which 

 species they had in, view. Few good figures are extant. 



It is one of the larger and more robust species. The large 

 chela is remarkably large and thick, with strong marginal notches 

 and lateral grooves, much as in the preceding species, but is wider 

 distally and differs in the positions of the grooves and in the form 

 of the dactyl and fixed finger (see pi. XXII). Its form is nearer 

 that of A. bahamcnsis, but the fingers of the latter are different 

 (pi. XX, 6a). 



Although Say's description is not very precise, it is sufficient 

 to distinguish his species from the two preceding and all our other 

 species. He states that the chela ("hand") is tipped with white, 

 which would exclude A. baliamensis, nor does he mention the 

 enlargement of the third and fourth pairs of legs, conspicuous in 

 the latter, though he described their spinules. His statement that 

 the rostrum is simple, spiniform, and acute, and that the ocular 

 lobe is "rounded at tip," excludes armillatus, as do the plain colors. 



Say's specimens were from South Carolina and one from Amelia 

 I., Florida. The latter was found under a mass of ascidians and 

 was observed while living. 



The smaller chela of the male has a characteristic form and 

 structure. It is broad, elongated. The palm is about equal to 

 the arched dactyl. The proximal dorsal area of the palm is 

 bounded by an impressed line; the upper margin is notched dis- 

 tally, and from the notch a groove runs back on each side, that 



* Specimens referred to edwardsn by Dr. Rankin, and which were sent 

 to us by him, included the young of two species, one of which was 

 A. candei, the other may be heterochcelis. 



