396 MR. J. E. HENDERSON — A CONTRIBUTION 



169. CALAPPA philargius (Linn.). 



C. philargius (Linn.), De Haan, Crust. Japon. p. 71, tab. xix. fig. 1 (1850). 



(= C. cristata, Fabr.). 



Ceylon (Salt/) ; Gulf of Martaban (Oates). 



Distribution. Indian Ocean, Malay Archipelago, China, Japan. 



Genus Matuta, Fahr. 



170. Matuta victrix, Fabr. 



M. victrix (Fabr.), Miers, Trans. Linn. Soc. ser. 2, Zool. vol. i. p. 243, pi. xxxix. figs. 1-3 (187"). 



Tuticorin {Thurston); Ceylon (Salt/, Nemll) ; Sind, Ganjam, Akyab {Day). Very 

 common at Madras (J. R. H.). 



Distribution. From the Red Sea, E. Africa, and Natal to Japan, Australia, and the 

 Pacific (New Hebrides, Fijis, &c). 



171. Matuta lunaris (Herbst). 



M. rubro-lineata, Miers, Trans. Linn. Soc. ser. 2, Zool. vol. i. p. 244, pi. xxxix. figs. 5-6 (1877), nee 

 M. lunaris, Miers. 



Ganjam (Day) ; Madras, not uncommon (J. R. U.). 

 Distribution. Indian and Pacific Oceans ; Chefoo (Miers). 



172. Matuta Miersii, Henderson. 



M. Miersii, Henderson, Madras Journ. Liter. & Science, session 1886-87, p. 66, pi. i. figs. 1-4 (1887). 



Tuticorin (Thurston) ; Ceylon (BZaly, Nevill) ; Madras, not uncommon (J. R. S.). 



This species may be recognized by its colour markings and by the characters of the 

 ridge on the outer surface of the hand, which in both sexes is composed of five short 

 finely granulated teeth, all more or less blunt, except the second, which is subacute ; the 

 surface below the ridge is also finely granulated. 



Since describing the species, I have had the advantage of examining a large series of 

 this genus in the British Museum, and I am still of opinion that M. Miersii is a good 

 species. Its nearest ally is M. picta, Hess (Miers), but in this the front is rounded or 

 only very slightly emarginate, whereas in M. Miersii it is always distinctly bilobed. In 

 M. picta there is a well-marked tubercle on the lateral margin of the carapace behind the 

 lateral spine, which is not seen in our species. The markings are somewhat similar in 

 the two, but in M. picta there is a greater tendency towards linear arrangement, and the 

 spots are dark brown or almost black in colour ; while in M. Miersii the macula? consist 

 of minute reddish or rust-coloured spots, which remain distinct and do not run into lines ; 

 indeed, they show a marked tendency to group themselves around circular or oval areas 

 of the carapace in which there are no spots. One such oval or pear-shaped area is 

 constantly present between the two anterior tubercles situated on the gastric area, and 

 in fresh specimens it is always lighter in colour than the rest of the carapace. Lastly, 

 M. picta reaches a considerable size, whereas M. Miersii is one of the smaller species of 



