56 METAPROTELLA SANDALEXSIS, N. SP. 



Habitat. Sandal Bay, Lifu, Loyalty Islands. They were taken, as Willey writes me, 

 " chiefly from the tests of transparent Aseidians which attach themselves in great num- 

 bers to the native fish-baskets in from 10 to 15 fathoms of water." 



The habitat of the new species is interesting. The other species of the genus Meta- 

 protella have hitherto been found in Port Jackson (Australia), and also between Ceylon 

 and the mainland of India and at the Philippine Islands. On the whole, as far as known, 

 in the Tropics, compared with the higher latitudes, not only Caprellidae are rare but 

 also the individuals are relatively small. This rule seems to hold good in the case of 

 Lifu. As for the Equator, I stated years ago (op. at. p. 99) that very likely in shallow 

 water, on account of its high temperature, no Caprellidae whatever may live, and I 

 should be very glad if investigators travelling in those regions or living there would 

 state this assertion to be well founded. 



Zool. Station, Naples. March, 1898. 



EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES. 



Fig. 1. Adult £ . x S. The 3 last pairs of thoracic legs by which the animal hooks on to the 

 Ascidian test, fallen off. 



Fig. 2. Tip of the mandibular palp, x 260. 



Fig. 3. Maxillipedes. x 180. 



Fig. 4. First leg — only the larger setae indicated, x 57. 



Fig. 5. Second leg — apparently somewhat shrunken, x 57. 



Fig. 6. Abdomen of <f somewhat compressed, x 260. 



