DESCRIPTION OF AN ABNORMAL LOBSTER CHELIPED. 255 



over on the outside (morphologically dorsal side) of each of the 

 index tips; but, as may be seen in Fig. i, they do not close 

 squarely, but instead the double claw shuts in such a manner 

 that both the dactyl tips overlap the index tips on the side toward the 

 normal {primary) claw. Thus D' L overlaps on the ventral side 

 of r L, and D'R on the dorsal side of I'R. In this connection it 



Pr'{R^L) 



Mer. 



Fig. 2. Photograph of abnormal cheliped from ventral side. 



is interesting to note that the normal dactyl {DL) when closed 

 overlaps decidedly on the ventral side of its index (IL),. that is, 

 on the side away from the extra claws. All these dactyls thus 

 overlap their respective indices on the side toward the median 

 plane of the animal, in this matter not agreeing with the morpho- 



