A. E. Verrill — Decapod Crustacea of Bermuda. 



383 



areas may be of use in attracting the sexes in the pairing season, 

 but perhaps they may also serve for a hire to attract small fishes, or 

 other prey. We had no opportunity to study this matter. One 

 would naturally suppose that they might also attract enemies in the' 

 shape of larger predacious fishes, many of which are well known to 

 be attracted by a white or bright metallic bait. But it must hap- 

 pen that the advantage gained is more than the disadvantage, or else 

 the species would have become extinct. 



Younger specimens, noted by my son, C. S. Verrill, in April, 1898, 

 had the following colors in life : Carapace light gray, with darker 

 shades over the cardiac region, and around the edges of the carapace. 

 Ventral surfaces white. Chelipeds light gray, purple at the joints. 



Figure 29. —A. Ordwatji, a, one of the chelae, showing the iridescent area, 

 X IJo ; ^) ^y parts of swimming leg ; c', denticulated angle of meiiis ; d, 

 verges and abdomen of male, enlarged. Phot. A. H. V". 



Ambulatory legs light gray, except the posterior legs, which have a 

 red blotch on the last joint. Eye-stalks light gray, the eyes black. 

 Chelte with a brilliant iridescent area. 



In alcohol the colors soon fade and the general color becomes yel- 

 lowish or salmon, often showing some red mottlings ; two bands of 

 pale red often cross the chelae, and the tips of the digits may be pale 

 red ; the fringe of long hairs on the merus often long retains its 

 red color in alcohol. 



