530 COLLECTIONS PEOM THE WESTERN IWDIAN OCEAN. 



23. Actseodes tomentosus {M.-Edw.). 



Darros Island, beach, an adult female (No. 200). 



Specimens of this very common Oriental species are in the British- 

 Museum collection from the Mauritius '{Lady F. Oole) ; Eodriguez 

 (Transit-of- Venus Eocped.); Seychelles {Dr. E. P. Wriffht); Eed 

 Sea, Dsedalus Shoal {Lt.-Ool. Play fair) ; Dube of York Island {Rev. 

 G. Brown) ; Sulu Islands ( U.S. Exploring Exped.) ; Philippines 

 {Cuming); Goto Islands {Copt. H. 0. St. John); Port Essington, 

 Minerva Eeef, and Fiji Islands {H.M.S. ' Herald ') ; Samoa Islands 

 {Rev. S. J. Whitmee) ; and Sandwich Islands ( W. H. Pease). 



24. Leptodius exaratus {M.-Edw.). 



A specimen from the beach at Darros Island (No. 200) and Mah^ 

 Island (No. 196) are referred to this species, and may perhaps be 

 best regarded as belonging to the variety sanguineus, M.-Edwards, 

 which is said to be common at the Mauritius, although they have 

 not the additional tooth behind the last of the normal antero-lateral 

 teeth which usually characterizes sanguineus. From the variety 

 designated distinguendus by De Haan* they are scarcely distin- 

 guishable, except by their somewhat less convex and rugose cara- 

 pace. I have referred to the uncertainty of the specific distinctions 

 in this genus on p. 214. 



If, as Dr. Eichter surmises, the Xantho quinquedentatus of Krauss 

 is to be regarded as synonymous with this species. Natal must be 

 added to the recorded localities where L. exaratus occurs on the 

 African coast. 



25, Leptodius exatatus, var. gracilis {Dana). 



Mozambique, obtained between tide-marks (Nos. 225, 227), two 

 males ; Poivre Island, beach (No. 198), eight specimens, of both 

 sexes and different ages. 



In the typical condition of this form the carapace is depressed and 

 nearly smooth in its median regions : there are four distinct antero- 

 lateral teeth (the one at the exterior orbital angle being usually 

 obsolete) ; the first of the four is the smallest, with its apex obscurely 

 defined ; the three posterior are broad, triangulate, and very distinct. 

 The cheUpedes are nearly smooth, and have their fingers strongly 

 arcuated, the lower, and sometimes the upper, finger being strongly 

 toothed on its inner margin. On p. 214 I have referred to the 

 localities whence the Museum possesses specimens of this variety, 

 and to its apparent connexion with the typical L. exaratus ; never- 

 theless it is usually easily idistinguishable by the characters men- 

 tioned above. 



* Xantho distinguendus, De Haan, Faun. Japon., Orust. p 48, pi xiii fie 7 

 (1835), re . g. 



