1887.] E. J. Jones — On some Nodular Stones obtained hij, ^c, 209 



which, opaque in both eyes, exhibits an obscure and degenerate faceting 

 in the left, but is devoid of all traces of facets in the right, the 

 shorter and the broader of the two ; and (c.) the relative amount of 

 pigment, represented by the dark shading, x 12. Zeiss' a*. Oc. 2. Abbe 

 camera. 

 Fig, 6. The right chela, x 3. 

 ,, 7. Lyreidus stenops, n. sp., ? . Dorsal view (to the right) of the abdomen, 



with side view (to the left) of its spinigerous 4th tergum. x 2. 

 „ 8. The carapace of the same in outline. Natural Size. 



This species may at once be distinguished from its congeners by its narrow 

 metope, its unarmed carapace, and its decumbent abdominal spine. A single 

 specimen of it, with a male and two females of another species identical with 

 the specimen from Japan referred in the above description to L. S-dentatus, has 

 been received by me from Hongkong from Brigade- Sargeon Hungerford, since this 

 paper was written. 



XIV. — Natural History Notes from H. M.'s Indian Marine Survey Steamer 

 * Investigator,' Commander Alfred Carpenter, R. N., Commanding. 

 No. 5. On some Nodular Stones ohtciined by trawling off Colombo 

 in 675 Fathoms of Water. — By E. J. Jones, A. R. S. M., Geological 

 Survey of India. 



[Received February 2nd ;— Read March 2nd, 1887.] 

 (With. Plate II.) 



Tliese nodules were forwarded to the Superintendent of the Indian 

 Museum, and by him passed on to the Director of the Geological Survey, 

 by whom they were subsequently entrusted to me for examination. 



The results of this investigation, though owing to want of time in- 

 complete, are, as will be seen, of considerable interest ; and I hope at 

 some future time to be able to go into the subject more fully. 



The nodules were obtained during a trawling operation off Colombo 

 in water of 675 fathoms, and are stated to have been found associated 

 with sand and mud, which formed a hard calcareous crust at the 

 bottom of the sea, and a small quantity of which was forwarded with 

 the specimens. 



The stones are irregularly rounded, and vary in shape from almost 

 spherical to roughly cylindrical with ronnded ends. The specimens re- 

 ceived varied in size from 1 — 4 inches in length and 1 ^ — | inch in thick- 

 ness. Externally, they are rough and mostly have one or two small 

 excrescences of the size of a pin's head, and a few small pittings of about 

 the same size ; the colour is dirty light grey. 

 27 



