30 Dr. W. T. Caiman on a 



V. — On a new Crab taken from a Deep-sea Telegraph- 

 Cable in the Indim Ocean. Bj W. T. Calman, D.Sc, 

 British Museum (Natural History). 



The crab described below was presented to the British 

 Museum, along with a number of other rare and interesting 

 deep-sea Crustacea, by Mr. O. G. F. Luhn, M.A., M.B., who 

 obtained them while acting as medical officer on board the 

 cable-ship ' Colonia/ of the Telegraph Maintenance and 

 Construction Company. The specimens were found in 

 repairing the cable between Aden and Zanzibar. Most 

 unfortunately the exact locality has not been recorded, but 

 the depth is given as "about 600 fathoms." 



It is most desirable that advantage should be taken of the 

 opportunities afforded by cable repair work of adding to our 

 knowledge of the deep-sea fauna. At present tiiese oppor- 

 tunities are mostly wasted; but a special leaflet, with instruc- 

 tions for the preservation of specimens found on the cables, 

 has recently been issued by the Zoological Department of this 

 Museum, and will be sent on application to anyone interested 

 in the subject. It is lioped in this way to induce some of 

 the officers of these shii)s to ])reservc, instead of throwing 

 overboard, the valuable material which comes to tiieir hands. 



Family Xanthidae. 



Calocarcinus *, gen. nov. 



Carapace transversely octagonal, fronto-orbital margin 

 between a half and two-thirds of its greatest width; surface 

 smooth. Antero-lateral margin with two teeth behind outer 

 angle of orbit. Orbits nearly concealing eyes, without 

 fissures, completely closed, the inner suborbital angle meeting 

 the front and excluding the antennae. Antennules folding 

 transversely. Basal segment of antenna not reaching front. 

 Endostomial ridges extending to anterior margin of buccal 

 frame, which is notched on either side. Clielipeds long, 

 massive, and unequal, the greater part of the merus extending 

 beyond the carapace ; fingers pointed. Propodus of legs 

 having a " pulley-like " articulation with dactylus on posterior 



* From /cdXwy, a rope or cable, in allusion to the circumstances under 

 whicli the specimens were captured ; if the ambiguity may be pardoned, 

 the alternative derivation from koKos, beautiful, is not inapplicable to the 

 species. 



