[Vol.. V, 1921.] Fauna of the Chilka Lake : Amphipoda. 535 



characters. The gnathopods of Niphargus chilkensis present a somewhat striking 

 resemblance to those of Phreatogammarus propinquus Chilton from New Zealand. 

 That, species, however, differs very considerably in the third uropods which, though 

 elongated, have two branches each consisting of a single joint. The third uropods in 

 Niphargus and allied species are subject to special development in the different 

 species and it is possible that the resemblance in the gnathopods is of more import- 

 ance from the point of view of relationship than the differences of the uropods. 

 [One of the commonest bottom species in the main area. N.A.] 



Melita inaequistylis (Dana.) 



Melita inaequistylis Stebbing, 1906. p. 429. 



Melita inaequistylis Chilton, 1909, p. 630 and 1911, p. 564. 



Melita inaequistylis Barnard, 1916, p. 191. 



Melita zeylanica Stebbing, 1904, p. 22, pi. 5. 



Melita tenuicornis Walker, 1904, p. 273, pi. 5, fig. 33. 



Locality. Off Barkul, in fresh water. A few specimens, males and females. 

 All small, largest about 4 mm. 



This species has already been recorded from Ceylon by Stebbing and Walker 

 and it is interesting to find that it extends into fresh and brackish waters in India, 

 just as it does in New Zealand. I have discussed the species to some extent else- 

 where and compared it with M. palmata to which I referred specimens from 

 Kermadec Islands (191 1, p. 564); since then I have found that the same form occurs 

 on the coast of New Zealand along with the typical M. inaequistylis. The latter 

 species is very wide spread and has been recorded from Cape Colony by Barnard, 

 who gives a description of his specimens and says that it will ultimately have to be 

 united with M. palmata (1916, p. 192). I have little doubt that the species des- 

 cribed by Fritz Müller from Brazil (1869, pp. 27, 28) under the names M. messalina 

 and M . insatiabilis will also prove to be identical with one or other of these forms. 



Maera othonides, Walker. 



(Text-fig. 5.) 



Maera othonides Walker, 1904, p. 271, pi. 5, fig. 29. 



Localities : — ■ 



Off vSamal Island, 8-15 ft., 22-ix-i3. One. 



North side Chirriya Island. One. 



Chirriya Island. One. 



8 miles W. by S. of Breakfast Island. Several. 



Barkuda Island. One. 



Chirriya Island. Three. 



Maludaikuda Island. One. 



Ennur backwater, near Madras town, 4-5 ft., Oct. 1913. One. 



These specimens undoubtedly belong to Walker's species, though in one or two 



