MELITA PALMATA. 339 



represented in our figure at the head of this description, 

 but which are shown in the vignette at page 340) are 

 very long ; the branches are unequal, the smaller being 

 almost obsolete and the larger fringed with short 

 stout hairs, or pointed spines, subapically tipped with 

 a solitary cilium. The terminal or central tail-piece is 

 double. 



This description is taken from a typical specimen, 

 whilst the figure represents the Gammarus incequimanus 

 of Mr. Spence Bate's Synopsis, but which he is now 

 satisfied is evidently this species, with one of the second 

 pair of legs imperfectly developed, (whence the specific 

 name,) after having been lost through some probable 

 injury. 



Melita palmata was first taken by Col. Montagu, and 

 described and figured in the Linnaean Transactions ; but 

 Dr. Leach separated it, very properly, from the genus 

 Gammarus, to which Montagu assigned it, and proposed 

 the present one for it. Montagu's figure was drawn 

 from a very imperfect specimen, and hence this species 

 has been mistaken by authors, although he exactly 

 represents the peculiar manner in which the finger folds 

 upon the inside of the hand of the second pair of feet. 



We have through the kindness of Professor Milne 

 Edwards examined the type of his Gammarus Dugesii, 

 and have no doubt of its identity with the present 

 species. 



This species appears to be by no means plentiful, 

 even in the localities in which it is found. Montagu 

 took it on the southern coast of Devon, probably at 

 Salcombe ; Dr. Leach records it from Plymouth ; and 

 we have received it from Poole, taken by Mr. Salter ; 

 from Polperro, by Mr. Loughrin ; and from Cultrea, 

 co. Down, and Dublin Bay, Ireland, by Prof. Kinahan. 



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