STOMAPODA. 393 



myself taken. They are about 6 lines in length, and agree in all respects 

 with Goodsir's description, but present at the same time a striking charac- 

 ter which he has not noticed — in the carapace being almost wholly covered 

 by series of minute granular spines (if such an expression may be used) 

 with the points directed forward, and hence my " ? " as to species. The 

 describer of Alaima obtained but the one specimen. 



ORDER STOMAPODA. 



Genus ]Mysis. 



M. spinulosus, Leach. 

 South of Ireland. 



M. Chamceleon, Thomp. (J. V.) 



The first examples described under this name were 'obtained in the 

 harbour of Cork. Specimens from each side of the island have come 

 under my notice. At Bangor, Avithin the entrance of Belfast Bay ; 

 Ballywalter, on the open coast of Down (both strictly marine localities) ; 

 in Dundrum Bay, same County (in brackish water) ; and in the tidal river 

 Lagan at Belfast ; I found them common in the simimer or autumn of 

 1835 and 1836. In the three first-named places they were taken between 

 tide-marks ; in rock-pools in the two first, and in a sandy bay in the last. 

 I have seen it amojig Crustacea brought up in the dredge in Avater 5 

 fathoms deep off the 1 )ublin coast by Dr. Ball ; have received it from the 

 West coast of Cork (Professor G. J. Allman), and have taken it myself 

 along the shores of Connaught. A detailed note of June 22, 1846, is as 

 follows : — When in company with Mr. Hyndman to-day at Strangford 

 Lough, I took a number of this species (which is admirably figured in the 

 work quoted) in brackish water, at Ardmillan. They were in extraordi- 

 nary profusion, and viewed in the water were at first sight mistaken for 

 the fi-y of fish. They appeared to be all about the same size, and adult, 

 as were the specimens taken, the largest exceeding 1^ inch in length from 

 point of anterior scales to end of the caudal plates. 



Mr. J. V. Thompson remarks that M. Chainceleon " has never been ob- 

 served like the other species in any gi-eat numbers together, but scattered 

 and solitary, often associated with M. tii Iff arts" p. 29. But where they 

 came under my observation in this instance, a small ann of the lough a 

 few feet in depth presented the extraordinary spectacle of being quite 

 alive with them. They were all swimming in one direction, towards the 

 sea, and moving regularly and horizontally onward. 



It is difficult, owing to the figure being deficient in elaboration, to judge 

 whether or not Montagu's Cancer astacns nndtipcs, Linn. Trans., ix. (p. 

 90) pi. 5, f. 3, be this species, but I agree Avith Mr. J. V. Thompson that 

 the Cancer Jiexiiosjis, MiiU. Zool. Dan., vol. ii. p. 34, pi. 66, is so. M. Ed- 

 wards (Hist. Crust., vol. ii. p. 4')H) observes, that spines arc represented 

 on the sides of the abdomen in Miiller's figure of 31. Jiexnosus, but 

 although such an appearance is presented in tlie plate, surely it is the 

 mere setfT? of the subabdominal fins which are intended to be represented. 

 The specimens taken on this occasion Avere all of one hue, as the millions 

 in the Avater seemed to be ; this Avas a very pale olive or " pellucid 

 cinereous," as ascribed to the 31. Lenchii by Mr. J. V. Thompson, from 

 which they differed only in having black instead of " reddish rust- 



