160 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 23 



scale tapers to a sharp point and has three sharp spines or branches on each 

 side. The lateral plates on the left of the abdomen in the female are fringed with 

 short, slender, blunt spines. 



The chelipeds extend a little beyond the middle of the propodal segment of 

 the first pair of ambulatory feet. The right cheliped is stouter than the left. The 

 prehensile edges of its fingers are strongly tubercular. The upper margin of the 

 palm is spiny; there are also some small spines on the middle and on the lower 

 margin. There are three long spines on the inner margin of the carpus. The left 

 cheliped is similar but smaller, and the prehensile edges of the fingers are sharp. 

 The ambulatory feet are wide and much compressed. The anterior and posterior 

 margins are armed with sharp spines, alternating in general large and small. 

 On the upper surface of the proximal end of the merus of the fourth pair of feet 

 there is a row of fine spines; the corresponding spines on the third pair of feet 

 are smaller, and on the second pair still smaller (Benedict). 



Dimensions. — Type: length of carapace and rostrum 90 mm., rostrum 9 mm., 

 width of carapace 82 mm. 



Type Locality. — Off the Pribilof Islands, 688 fathoms. 



Distribution. — Pribilof Islands, to off Cortez Bank, California, 688 to 822 

 fathoms (Rathbun). 



Genus Paralithodes Brandt 



Carapace armed with a number of strong, long spines. Third to fifth abdom- 

 inal segments with median plates replaced by a membranous area covered by 

 calcified, often spinous nodules; lateral plates of these segments in the female are 

 very much larger on the left side than on the right; plates of basal (second) 

 segment distinct, separated by evident sutures. 



Key to the California Species of Paralithodes 



I. Rostrum bifurcate, tip with two well developed divergent horns; anterior lateral 

 spines of rostrum reaching to apex of bifurcation of rostrum. (Known 

 only from 211 -j- fathoms.) 



rathbuni, p. 160. 



II. Rostrum simply bifid or split, two terminal spines thus formed approximated; 

 anterior lateral spines of rostrum not reaching half way to bases of term- 

 inal spines. (Known only from 155 + fathoms.) 



calif orniensis, p. 161. 



Paralithodes rathbuni (Benedict) 



Plate 26; plate 27; plate 29, figures 6 and 7; plate 30, figures 3 and 4 



Lithodes rathbuni Benedict, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 17, 482, 1894. 

 Paralithodes rathbuni Bouvier, Ann. Sci. Nat. (8), 1, 23, 1896. 

 Lithodes rathbuni Holmes, Occas. Papers Calif. Acad. Sci., 7, 131, 1900. 



Original Description. — Carapace of male armed with long spines on the differ- 

 ent regions; also with longer spines on the margins. There are four on the 

 gastric; two short and two long on the cardiac region. The branchial region has 

 six spines of various lengths. The posterolateral margin has the longest spine, 

 being 26 mm. in length on one side and 23 mm. on the other. Both have lost 

 their points. Anterior to this there are three spines, the shortest unbroken one 

 being 17 mm. long; on the margin posterior to the longest spine there are four 

 spines, the longest of which is 14 mm. in length and the shortest 8 mm. The 

 rostrum is composed of five branches; the main stem is sharply bent upward and 



