Hector.—Notes on New Zealand Crustacea. 478 
will have to be reduced in number. Mr. Miers has pointed out the remark- 
able resemblance which exists between the Crustacea of New Zealand and 
those of the British seas, so that a comparison of the number recorded for 
the two areas may suggest where our knowledge of the subject is still 
most incomplete. 
Of Sessile-eyed Crustacea, which are mostly of minute size and frequently 
parasitic on fish, 101 species occur in the British seas, whilst only 47 are 
recorded from New Zealand. Of Stalk-eyed Crustacea, such as crabs, 
lobsters, prawns, and the like, which are more obvious, 98 species are 
known in Britain, and there are already 93 recorded for New Zealand. 
The absence of the larger species of crabs and lobsters, used as food in 
other countries, from the coast of New Zealand, is remarkable, as the 
conditions for their development appear to be favourable, and, from their 
fossil remains, such large limbed forms must have abounded in the seas of 
the early tertiary period. When we consider the character of the New 
Zealand coast, with its deep inlets and rocky islets covered with kelp, 
affording lurking-places for large predaceous Crustacea, it is remarkable 
that only one large species of crayfish should be found of size suitable to 
be used as food, and I would suggest the introduction of the crab and 
lobster as a matter deserving of the attention of our Acclimatization 
Societies. 
PLATYONYCHUS OCELLATUS 
Differs from P. bipustulatus, M. Edwd.,* in having only three inter- 
orbital spines, and in the absence of a middle lobe in the orbital margin. 
The regions are not well defined, and the limbs are more granulated, the 
second pair hardly differing from the third and fourth. Abdomen narrow, 
with five segments. Colour brownish, with red granulated spots. 
Length, 2:2 inches; breadth, 2°6 inches. 
A single specimen, labelled Portunus ocellatus (MSS. by Capt. Hutton), 
in the Colonial Museum collection. 
Locality: Wellington Harbour. 
PosrscaiPr.— March 1st, 1877. 
A drawing of this species was sent to Mr. Miers, and in reply the fol- 
lowing information has been received:— 
The Platyonychus I believe to be without doubt the P. ocellatus, Latr., 
which inhabits the Atlantic coast of America and the Gulf of Mexico. I 
send you the description of that species by M. A. Milne Edwards for com- 
parison. So far as I know P. ocellatus has not been found further south 
than the Straits of Florida. 
* Miers, loc. cit., p. 32. 
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