180 BRITISH PARASITIC COPEPODA. 



Antennules short, conspicuous in front, their basal 

 part considerably expanded, but the distal end narrow, 

 and minutely setiferous. Antennge short and stout, 

 and armed with strong terminal hook-like claws. 

 Mandibles and other mouth-organs somewhat similar to 

 those of Ghondr acanthus comutus. Thoracic legs in- 

 distinctly biramose, and more or less rudimentary in 

 structure. Length about 12 mm. 



Male. — The male of this species, like that of the 

 last, has a close resemblance to the male of Ghondr a- 

 canthus comutus as indicated by Dr. Baird. It is of a 

 pyriform shape, considerably swollen in front but 

 tapering towards the distal end, and furnished with 

 strongly uncinate foot-jaws. It is usually found 

 clinging to the female, but from its minute size may 

 easily be missed. 



Habitat. — Parasitic usually on inner surface of the 

 gill-pouches of angler-fishes (Lophius piscatorius Linn.). 

 It is a moderately common species on the angler-fish 

 and has been recorded from various parts of the 

 British coast. Dublin, 1839; Belfast, 1841 (W.- 

 Thompson). Coasts of Devon and Cornwall (G. Parker, 

 A. M. Norman, and others). Irish Sea, and various 

 parts of the Scottish coasts (T. fy A. Scott). For a 

 detailed account of the anatomical structure of this 

 curious species see Turner and Wilson's memoir referred 

 to above. The colour of this Ghondr acanthus is usually 

 opaque white. The egg-strings are of great length, 

 usually in screw-form, very slender, and contain 

 numerous small ova. Specimens may often be found 

 in considerable numbers in the gill-pouches of both 

 laro-e and small anglers. 



11. Chondracanthus merluccii (Holten). 



(Plate XX, fi>. 10; Plate XL VII, fig. 8; Plate LIII, 

 figs. 16-19.) 



1802. Lernsea merluccii Holten. (63) vol. v, pi. iii, fig. 2. 



1837. Chondracanthus merluccii Kroyer. (70) p. 278, pi. iii, fig. 9. 



1840. Chondracanthus merluccii M. Edwards. (43) vol. iii, p. 503. 



