2(3(5 CEYLON PEARL OYSTER REPORT. 



3rd pair of legs bears a long stout aculeate spine. Fifth pair of legs foliaceous ; 

 outer joint in female roundly ovate, both clothed with long spinous setae. In the 

 male 5th pair the joints are coalescent and terminate in dagger-shaped spines and 

 plumose setae. Furcal rami about 1|- times as long as broad, each bearing a long 

 thick terminal spine and short setae. 



Several females and 2 males were obtained from young pearl oyster washings, and 

 from deep water off Point de Galle. The anterior and posterior antennae, the mouth 

 organs and the 1st and 5th pairs of natatory legs are clear distinguishing characters 

 of this species. 



Laophonte serrata, OJlatjs. 

 Laophonte inornata, A. Scott. 



Both of the above were taken at Cheval Paar, and were also found in general 

 washings of Invertebrates from the pearl oyster beds. 



Laophonte hirsuta, n. sp. — Plate VIII., figs. 1 to 8. 



Length, female CP5 millim. ; male unknown. 



Lateral edges of cephalothorax and abdomen fringed with minute hairs, giving the 

 animal a hirsute appearance. First cephalic segment quadrately shield-shaped, 

 produced postero-laterally, and equalling in size the rest of the cephalothorax and 

 abdomen. 



Anterior antennae 6-jointed, the proportional lengths of the joints being as 



follows : — : '- : — '—- r " The upper side is clothed throughout with short setae. 



13. 14. 14. 4. 3. 10. lt to 



the protuberance of the 4th joint leading to a long narrow filament. 



Posterior antennae and mouth organs, with the exception of mandible, as in 

 L. horrida. Mandible elongated and narrow, the palp being long and slender. Inner 

 branch of 1st pair natatory legs remarkably robust, terminating in a very small joint 

 and a short stout curved claw. Outer branch 2-jointed, the 2 joints not half the 

 length of the 1st inner joint. The outer branch in 2nd, 3rd and 4th pairs is 3-jointed, 

 the inner 2-jointed. The 5th pair have small basal joints and a long narrow second 

 joint armed with plumose setae. Furcal rami small, subquadrate. 



Eleven specimens, all females, were obtained from the Muttuvaratu pearl oyster 

 washings and the general washings of dredged Invertebrates. 



The 1st and 5th natatory legs are sufficiently diagnostic of this species. 



Laophontella, n. gen. 



Body somewhat pyriform, the cephalic segment nearly half the animal's entire 

 length. Anterior antennae 5-jointed. Posterior antenna? and mouth organs appear to 

 be as in Laophohtodes. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd pairs of natatory legs have both inner 



