VELVET SWIMMING-CRAB. 91 



denticulate, with two rather deep fissures in the upper, 

 and one in the lower ; a strong denticulated tooth protects 

 the inner canthus beneath. The eyes are round, placed on 

 short and broad peduncles. The front is very broad, armed 

 with a spine on each side of the centre, and a denticulated 

 triangular tooth at the exterior extremity, between which 

 are about three small pointed teeth. The posterior por- 

 tion of the carapace is broad, the surface is granulated, 

 and covered with a dense, short, villous coat. The first 

 pair of legs are very robust ; the spines and processes very 

 strongly marked ; on the wrist are two spines, the outer 

 one simple and acute, the inner very strong, and furnished 

 with two additional smaller teeth. The hand is furnished 

 with a strong spine at the anterior and upper part, pro- 

 jecting over the joint of the moveable finger : the elevated 

 portions are covered with large granulations. The fingers 

 are longitudinally grooved, and furnished with strong ir- 

 regular tubercular teeth ; the points moderately acute. 

 The second, third, and fourth pairs of legs are long, 

 slightly grooved longitudinally, carinated above, and the 

 terminal joint is long, slender, and pointed. The fifth 

 pair has the last two joints much flattened ; the last but 

 one has four, and the terminal one three raised longi- 

 tudinal lines, which are naked and polished : they are 

 both furnished with a close firm fringe of hair, and the 

 last is acuminated. The whole of the legs, as well as the 

 carapace and thorax, are covered with a villous coat, 

 excepting on the elevated portions, which are generally 

 naked. The abdomen in the male forms an acute triangle, 

 and each joint is slightly carinated transversely ; in the 

 female, it is broadly ovate. 



The colours of this fine species are exceedingly bright 

 and showy when it is alive, but soon fade after death. 



