57 



200 fathoms. Some years afterwards, I met with this species in a widely distant 

 locality, viz., at Hasvig, West Finmark, where a few specimens, males and fe- 

 males, were taken from depths of from 150 to 200 fathoms. 



Fam. 3. JEgldae. 



Characters.- -Body more or less broad, depressed, with the dorsal face 

 evenly vaulted and very smooth. Cephalon comparatively small, transverse, front 

 not produced above the bases of the antennae. Segments of mesosome well-defined 

 and closely crowded together, all, excepting the 1st, having distinct coxal plates 

 firmly connected with them laterally. Metasome composed of 6 well-defined seg- 

 ments, the last large, scutiform, and ciliated at the edges, constituting together 

 with the uropoda a well-developed caudal fan. Eyes, when present, large, extend- 

 ing more or less over the dorsal face of the head. Antennas pointing laterally, the 

 superior ones shorter than the inferior, and originating close together in front of 

 them; both pairs provided with distinctly-defined, multiarti dilate flagella. Oral 

 parts of rather anomalous structure, being modified for piercing and tearing the 

 skin of other animals. The first 3 pairs of legs short and thick, prehensile, ter- 

 minating in a strongly curved, hook-like dactylus, the 4 posterior pairs more slen- 

 der, and ambulatory in character. Pleopoda with the rami large, foliaceous, cili- 

 ated at the edges, serving partly for swimming, partly for respiration. Uropoda 

 attached laterally beneath the base of the terminal segment, and having the rami 

 of coarser structure, and partly fringed with spines. Sexual difference not very 

 pronounced. 



Remarks. — This is one of the 6 families comprised within the large group 

 Oymofhoidce, and is chiefly distinguished from the otheV families by the com- 

 paratively broad, flattened body, and by the structure of the antenna; and oral 

 parts. All the forms belonging to this family lead a parasitic existence, being 

 generally found clinging to the skin of fishes of different kinds, though they are 

 pretty well adapted for moving freely about by the aid of the largely developed 

 pleopoda. Four or 5 genera are comprised within this family, 3 of which are 

 represented in the fauna of Norway. 



