GALACANTHA DIOMEDE/E. 79 



The "Albatross" specimens differ constantly from the typical West 

 Indian form in tlie following particulars: The spines at the antero-lateral 

 angles of the carapace are more divergent, the anterior spine being more 

 nearly parallel with the axis of the body ; the posterior spine is relatively 

 longer ; the abdomen is smoother toward the central part of the segments ; 

 the dorsal spine of the fourth abdominal segment is smaller. In other re- 

 gards there is considerable variation among different individuals. The color 

 in life is orange-red, fading into pale yellowish on the carapace and abdomen. 



The characters pointed out by Henderson * to separate G. bcUis from 

 G. rodrata can hardly be deemed of specific value, nor does it seem probable 

 that G. taUsmanii\ is anything more than individual, age, or perhaps local 

 variation of the same species. G. talismanu is a manuscript name of A. Milne 

 Edwards's ; but this writer appears to have abandoned its claims to recogni- 

 tion as a valid species, since it is not included in his enumeration of the 

 known species of Galacaniha given in the " Considerations Generales sur la 

 Famille des Galatheides." \ Finally, as far as can be determined by Wood- 

 Mason's short description, G. arcoMa% differs from G. rostrata chiefl}^ in the 

 coarser granulation of the carapace, and may perhaps be viewed to more 

 advantage as an East Indian race of G. rosiraia. If my suspicions concerning 

 the relationship of the above-named forms be well founded, we behold in 

 G. rosiraia a somewhat variable abyssal species of world-wide distribution, 

 represented on both sides of the Atlantic, off the Pacific coast of America, 

 in the Banda Sea, and in the Bay of Bengal. 



The typical form of G. rosiraia comes from the West Indian region, 1098- 

 1591 fathoms. It has been figured by S. I. Smith. || 



Galacantha diomedeae Fax. 

 Plaie XXV. 



Bull. Mus. Coiiip. Zool., XXIV. ]S0. 1S93. 



Rostrum without lateral spines ; distal part turned upward at an angle of 

 less than 95° in most specimens, but in some cases the inclination is greater ; 



* Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 5tli Ser., XVI. 41S, 1885; Rep. Cliaileiigei- Anomura, p. 167, Plate XIX. 

 Fig. 6, 1888. 



t Heuderson, Rep. Challenger Anomura, p. 167, Plate XX. Pig. 1, 1888. 



t A. Milne Edwards et Bouvier, Ann. Soi. Nat., Zool., 7'""' Sor., XVI. 270, 1894. 



§ Ann. Mag. N.it. Hist., 6tli Ser., VII. 200, 1891. 



II BuU. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. X., No. 1, Plate IX. Fig. 2, 2», 1882; Ann. Kep. U. S. Fisli Comm. 

 for 1SS5, Plate VI. Fig. 1, 1°, 1886. 



