REPORT ON THE ISOPODA. 63 



First pair 6 mm., second pair 13 mm., third pair 20 mm., fourth pair 25 mm. 



The structure of the limbs in every case is nearly identical. 



The two basal joints are comparatively short and stout, the third is very short ; the 

 fourth and fifth are again long, and the limb terminates in a short pointed joint. 



In the first pair of appendages the terminal claw is bent and very short, the fourth 

 and fifth joints are hardly longer than the first ; in the succeeding appendages the fourth 

 and fifth joints are very considerably longer than the first, and the terminal joint is long 

 and straight. 



The posterior thoracic appendages (fig. 5) have the penultimate and antepenultimate 

 joints flattened and widened, and fringed with long plumose hairs. 



The uropoda are very minute and biramose ; the inner branch is much shorter and 

 more slender than the outer branch, which is still more slender than though equal in 

 length to the basal joint. 



Station 168, off New Zealand, July 8, 1874 ; lat. 40" 28' S., long. 177° 43' E. ; depth, 

 1100 fathoms; bottom temperature, 37°'2 F. ; blue mud. 



Eurycope fragilis, F. E. Beddard (PI. IX. figs. 8-12). 



Eurycope fragilis, F. E. Beddard, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1885, part iv. p. 920. 



A number of individuals from four distinct stations appear to be referable to one 

 species, which differs from those already described. The largest specimen, which 

 is unfortunately greatly damaged, was dredged in the Southern Ocean, from a depth of 

 1260 fathoms; four other considerably smaller examples were dredged in the Pacific, 

 off the coast of Japan, in 1875 fathoms; another specimen, also small, was dredged in 

 the Southern Ocean at Station 147, and a fourth locality is Station 158, where a single 

 specimen was obtained. The distribution of this species is therefore wider than of any 

 species belonging to this family, with the exception of Eurycope atlantica. Eurycope 

 fragilis has its nearest allies in Eurycope intermedia, Eurycope novse-zelandise, and 

 Eurycope atlantica, but it may be easily distinguished from both by the long, 

 forwardly curved, lateral spines of the caudal shield ; and by the absence of a long 

 spine upon its upper surface, which is characteristic of Eurycope atlantica (see 

 p. 66-67, and PL IX. fig. 13). 



The largest specimen, that from 1260 fathoms (Station 152), measures 30 mm. in 

 extreme length ; as it is so damaged, particularly in the region of the thorax, the 

 following description of the species is based upon the other individuals, which are much 

 more perfect. It may be just open to doubt whether the large individual from 

 Station 152 is in reality the same species as the small individuals ; as the former is so 

 incomplete I prefer to consider it for the present as really belonging to the same species, 

 especially since it agrees, in all ascertainable characters, with the smaller specimens 



