I '08. 122 



Genus Athanas, Leach. 

 Athanas nitescens (Montagu). 



PI. XIX, fig. 5. 



Athanas nitescens, Bell, 1853, fig., p. 281. 



Athanas veloculus, Spence Bate, 1888, PI. xcvi, fig. 1. 



Colour in life. — Numerous large closely set red chromato- 

 phores are distributed over the carapace and abdomen. Dor- 

 sally a broad white stinpe runs from the base of the rostrum 

 to the apex of the telson, crossed at the base of the latter by a 

 transverse red line ; behind each eye there is a lenticular white 

 patch. On the antennular and antennal peduncles are a few 

 large red pigments spots ; the flagella themselves are yellowish. 

 The third maxillipedes are transparent, tinged with red at the 

 base. The first three pairs of pereiopods are heavily banded 

 with red, but the last two are transparent. The uropods are 

 bright red. 



No opportunity for observing the range of colour in this 

 species was afforded. i\fter long preservation in dilute for- 

 malin specimens often exhibit a rather marked blue colora- 

 tion. This is probably a prominent characteristic of some 

 individuals w^hen living. 



Size. — The largest specimen examined measures 20 mm. 



General distribution. — Athanas nitescens is found com- 

 monly in the Mediterranean and Adriatic (Heller, etc.) ; it has 

 been recorded from the Cape Verde Is. (Sp. Bate sub A. 

 veloculus) and is well known on the west coast of France 

 (Barrois, Fischer, etc.). The species has also been found in 

 Demnark (Meinert), Sweden (Goes), and off the south and 

 west coasts of Norway (Sars), but in these localities it seems 

 to be very scarce. Pearson (1905) has examined specimens 

 from Ceylon. 



On the English coasts A. nitescens is known from Devon 

 and Cornwall and from Cullercoats in Northumberland 

 (Norman, Sp. Bate, etc.). 



Irish distribution. — Like Hippolyte prideauxiana this 

 species is in Irish w^aters essentially littoral, and consequently 

 does not come within the scope of the operations of the 

 Helga. On the west coast it is probably far from uncommon. 

 It has been frequently found in Blacksod Bay, Co. Mayo, and 

 in Bofin and Ballynakill Harbours, Co. Gal way, and has also 

 been taken near Roundstone and Oranmore. On the Co. 

 Clare coast it has been recorded from Lahinch and Bally- 

 vaughan, while two examples were found in February, 1908, 

 at Valencia, Co. Kerry. 



On the east coast of Ireland it is known from Larne Lough, 

 Cp. Antrim (Rankin) and from Kingstown and Killiney, Co. 

 Dublin (Kinahan). 



