86 



PORTUNIDJE. 



legs are of moderate length and size, rounded on the outer, 

 and flattened on the inner sides ; the wrist has a distinct 

 carina on the superior margin, which is ciliated, and ter- 

 minates anteriorly in a sharp spine ; the hand is carinate 

 above and beneath, the superior carina being, like that of 

 the wrist, closely ciliated with short hairs, the inferior con- 

 tinued along the immoveable finger, which is triangular. 

 The moveable finger is considerably curved, with a furrow 

 on the outer side ; both are obtusely toothed. The re- 

 maining legs are slightly compressed, the terminal joints of 

 the second, third, and fourth, very narrow lanceolate ; that 

 of the fifth pair more broadly lanceolate, all acutely 

 pointed. The abdomen of the male is long and narrow, 

 the penultimate joint nearly quadrate, the terminal one 

 triangular. That of the female is but little broader than 

 that of the male, the sides parallel as far as the fifth joint 

 inclusive, which is transversely quadrate, the penultimate 

 and the terminal one diminishing almost regularly to the 

 apex, which is slightly truncated. 



The colour is very pale dull purplish-white, mottled with 

 a darker hue. 



Dr. Leach describes this species, with great truth, as one 

 of the most beautiful of the British Crabs ; but he is cer- 

 tainly in error when he calls it " the most common." It is 

 found along the whole of the western and southern coasts ; 

 but as far as my own experience goes, and that of others 

 of whom I have made the inquiry, not in the abundance 

 alluded to by my lamented friend. Mr. Thompson, in 

 giving its Irish localities, says very correctly, " It is occa- 

 sionally found thrown ashore on extensive sandy beaches." 

 It is one of the more rare and local of the Irish species. 

 It is taken, according to Dr. Leach, by digging beneath 



