249 CRUSTACEA. 



Genus MELIA, Edwards. 



The subquadrate form in Melia is Grapsoid; yet the species, as 

 shown by Milne Edwards (Crust,, i. 431), has the outer maxillipeds 

 of the Cancridse, and the male verges are similar in position. More- 

 over, as we have observed, the palate has the two ridges of the Eri- 

 phidse. The buccal area is nearly square, being a very little broader 

 than long. The outer maxillipeds are not closely in contact by their 

 inner margins, and the outer angle of the third joint is rounded. The 

 legs in the known species are rather long, and the hand slender; the 

 tarsus is but little curved, and not spinulous. 



Genus MELIA, LatreiUe. 



Melia tessellata (LatreiUe), Echo. 



Plate 14, fig. 1 a, female, enlarged two and one-third diameters ; b, 

 under view of front ; c, front view of front ; d, female abdomen, en- 

 larged two diameters. 



From the coral reef of Wakes Island, North Pacific, Dec. 20, 1841. 



The figure of this species in Milne Edwards's Crustac£s, pi. 18 (fig. 

 8), is evidently coloured from a dried or alcoholic specimen, like most 

 other figures of Crustacea extant, and does not do justice to this beau- 

 tiful species. The carapax of the specimen collected by us was marked 

 with a few large polygonal areas, separated by dark purple lines or 

 bands. The three anterior of the areas are vermilion; the lateral 

 either side are tinged with vermilion ; the two posterior are yellowish 

 with a small vermilion spot at centre. The legs have a light flesh 

 tint, with two narrow carmine bands on each joint. 



The carapax is but little shorter than broad, and nearly rectan- 

 gular. The margin either side is nearly straight, inclining a little 

 inward, and anteriorly, a short distance back of the orbits, the postero- 

 lateral margin terminates in a tooth, projecting forward. The cara- 

 pax between the eyes is about half its greatest breadth. The front 



