232 Memoirs of the Indian Museum. [Voiv. V, 



brown with dark purple marginal spots, specially well defined on the propodus. The 

 ventral surface was of a dull olive tone, paler than the back, and the eggs in an 

 ovigerous female were very deep purple, almost black. 



Pachygrapsus propinquus is represented in the collection by numerous specimens 

 and appears to be not uncommon at the edge of the lake in those places where a 

 stony foreshore exists. It is a very active species and difficult to catch in num- 

 bers; it lives for the most part under stones, but in wet weather may be found run- 

 ning on the shore or on rocks. In the main area of the lake, specimens were obtained 

 in company with Varuna litter ata, at Barkul, on Barkuda and Cherria Is. and on the 

 rocks at the foot of Ganta Sila. In the outer channel the species was found on three 

 occasions; in March 1914, when the water was as salt as that of the Bay of Bengal, 

 two individuals were obtained clinging to one of the posts that serve to mark the 

 deep water passage near Satpara, and in September and December of the same year 

 specimens were found on the oyster-bed opposite Manikpatna. In September, when 

 the water on the oyster-bed was quite fresh, only a single individual was discovered; 

 but in December, when the water was more saline (sp. gr. 1-0125), numerous young, 

 including specimens in the megalopa stage, were obtained. 



The species is common in the Ennur backwater, near Madras, sheltering under 

 blocks of latérite piled up to protect the shore from erosion, and in dull weather run- 

 ning about on these rocks throughout the day. 



Ovigerous females found in the lake were obtained at Cherria I. in April and at 

 Barkul in July in water of specific gravity 1-00975 and 1-0075. In the Ennur back- 

 water, near Madras, Dr. Annandale found several ovigerous females in January in 

 water of rather lower density (sp. gr. 10025). 



The only other known examples of Pachygrapsus propinquus are those described 

 by de Man and obtained in brackish pools at Port Canning in the Gangetic delta. 



Subfamily VARUNINAE. 



Genus VARUNA, Milne-Edwards. 



Varuna litterata (Fabricius). 



1900. Varuna litterata, Alcock, Joum. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, L,XIX, p. 401. 



This abundant species is not particularly common in the Chilka Lake, though it 

 may be found in some numbers in suitable localities. It seems to prefer a situation 

 close to the water's edge, where some cover, either stones and boulders or the stems 

 and roots of plants, is available. Such amenities are rare on the shores of the lake, 

 the margin of the main area being for the most part bare mud or muddy sand and 

 that of the outer channel muddy sand or sand. At the southern end of the lake, 

 however, more especially on Barkuda, Cherria and Chiriya Is. and at the base 

 of Ganta Sila, the foreshore is stony and in these localities Varuna litterata is not 

 uncommon. At the close of the monsoon, when the water is fresh and in many places 

 reaches to the roots of the screw-pines and other vegetation, suitable cover is afforded 

 for a short period and a few specimens were taken in such situations. 



