CONGERICOLA PALL1DA. 125 



Free thoracic segments two, very short, and without 

 lobes or dorsal plates. G-enital segment elongated, 

 narrow, and subcylindrical. Abdomen short ; caudal 

 segments small and setiferous. 



Antennules short and composed of about six joints, 

 but one or two of the articulations are not very 

 distinct; antennse two-jointed, and provided with 

 strong terminal hooked claws. Mouth-appendages 

 somewhat similar to those in Hatschekia. Thoracic 

 legs four pairs, biramose, and somewhat rudimentary. 

 Colour pale reddish, scarcely so deep-coloured as the 

 gills of the fish. Length, exclusive of egg-strings, 

 about 4 mm. ; egg-strings slender and elongated, about 

 twice as long as the animal. 



This species, in its general appearance, has a some- 

 what close resemblance to Hatschekia. 



The male has not been observed. 



Habitat. - - Parasitic on the gills of conger eels, 

 Conger vulgaris Cuv. (Conger niger, Eisso). Plymouth 

 (Bassett- Smith). Firth of Clyde and at Aberdeen (T. 

 Scott). Lancashire coast (A. Scott). 



This parasite is not uncommon on the gills of large speci- 

 mens of the conger, and sometimes occurs in considerable 

 numbers. Thirty individuals have been taken from the gills 

 of a single fish. The species has been recorded from the 

 Adriatic (Dr. G-raeffe) as well as from the coast of Belgium 

 (P. J". van Beneden) . 



Genus 25. EUDACTYLINA P. J. van Beneden, 1853. 



Female. Cephalothorax composed of five segments ; 

 cephalic segment obtuse, wider behind than in front ; 

 thoracic segments without dorsal plates or lateral 

 processes. Abdomen, including the genital segment, 

 considerably shorter than the cephalothorax and com- 

 posed of three segments. Antennules short, stout, 

 and usually five-jointed, basal joint usually provided 

 with strong hooked spines ; antennae three-jointed and 

 armed with stout terminal claws. Mandibles and 



