DECA POD A . PA LlNURIDjE. 



MACROURA. 



GENUS PALINURUS. FABH. 



CANCER, (Astacus). Penn. 



PALINURUS. Fabr. Latr. Lam. Leach, Edw. 



Generic character. External antenna very thick and long ; 

 basal joint very large, and united with its fellow in front of the 

 mouth, forming a broad epistome ; the three following joints very 

 large and spinous ; the setae but little flexible, composed of nume- 

 rous short articulations. Internal antennce long, the basal portion 

 consisting of three long cylindrical articulations, terminated by 

 two short multi-articulate setae. External foot-jaws pediform. 

 Feet wholly monodactyle. The first pair thicker and shorter 

 than the others, with a spine at the termination of the penulti- 

 mate joint, constituting the rudiment of a thumb. Carapace sub- 

 cylindrical, with a strongly marked furrow separating the gastric 

 from the cardiac and branchial regions ; its anterior margin armed 

 with two very strong curved spines, standing forwards over the 

 eyes and the base of the antennae. Abdomen very much de- 

 veloped, being thick and long : the first segment without appen- 

 dages ; the four following furnished with false feet, single in the 

 male, double and hairy in the female. Tail very broad ; the base 

 only of each portion being crustaceous, the remaining portion 

 membranaceous. 



THIS genus comprises several large esculent species, one 

 only of which is an inhabitant of our coasts. They are 

 found principally on rocky shores, and are very widely 

 extended. It would appear that they were well known 



to the ancients, and esteemed as food ; and there is no 



p 2 



