276 



ALPHEAD^B. 



the extremity ; ciliated on the outer margin. Peduncle of 

 the internal antennae cylindrical; the internal filament 

 much longer than the external. External pedipalps, with 

 the last joint but two equalling in length the terminal and 

 penultimate joints together. Didactyle foot of the first 

 pair rather thicker than the other ; the hand and wrist 

 straight : the monodactyle foot terminating in a very small 

 slightly curved finger. Of the second pair, the right is 

 much longer than the left. The fourth pair longer than 

 the third and fifth, the latter being the shortest. The 

 abdomen is evenly rounded, somewhat compressed, con- 

 tinuous with the carapace. The middle plate of the tail 

 channelled throughout its length, and armed with minute 

 spines. 



Length two inches to two inches and a half. 



The colour of this beautiful species is described by Risso 

 and Roux as of a flesh-red, more or less dotted with 

 yellow and white, and marked along the back with spots 

 of these colours. The body is said to be so transparent 

 that the viscera may be seen through the integument. The 

 female is stated by Roux to be found, at different periods of 

 the year, bearing eggs of a yellowish-green colour, which 

 are deposited on algse and fuci. 



The same author states that this species constitutes an 

 ordinary article of food on all the coasts of the Mediter- 

 ranean. It lives in shoals with various species of the 

 genera Pala>mon, Hippolyte, Alpheus, &c. 



After the most careful examination I have been able to 

 institute, I have come to the conclusion that the Nika 

 edulis of Risso and those who follow him, and the Processa 

 canaliculata of Leach, are identical. It is certainly one of 

 the rarest of our British species. A small specimen was 

 obtained by Montagu at Torcross, on the southern coast of 





