68 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. (VoL. XXXVI. 
Laccadive archipelagoes of the Indian Ocean’ are appearing in a 
series of parts that closely resembles the series of Willey’s “ Results.” 
The first part contains an eleven-page “ Narrative and Route of the 
Expedition,” with two maps. This shows that one who goes on such 
a journey may expect exasperating delays of weeks at atime. Next 
follows * An Account of the Coral Formations of the Indian Ocean,” 
by Gardiner, which is not completed, but shows that atolls have been 
formed in regions of e/evation (and not always of depression, as called 
for by Darwin’s theory). The accompanying papers are by Borradaile 
(who was with Gardiner in the early part of his trip) on the ** Land 
Crustaceans”; by Cameron on “ Hymenoptera”’; and by Punnett on 
“ Nemerteans.” In the last paper the first mesonemertean from the 
Indian Ocean is recorded, — a Cephalothrix. The prevailing genera 
are Eupolia, Cerebratulus, and Drepanophorus, — genera widely dis- 
tributed. As to the Hymenoptera, Cameron says the known species 
are Indian forms of wide distribution in the Oriental zodlogical 
region, and all the genera are of universal distribution in temperate 
and tropical countries, — such familiar genera as Crabro, Bembex, 
Polistes, and numerous Apide. The most general interest attaches, 
however, to the paper on “Land Crustaceans.” ‘Their numbers, 
their ubiquity, their activity, combine to give them a prominence 
which is all the more marked from the absence of so many other land 
animals of continental areas. They are the chief scavengers of the 
island, play a great part in the destruction or disintegration of fruits, 
and probably aid in the distribution of seeds. The work done by 
them in burrowing along the sandy lagoon. shore has a possible 
importance not hitherto noticed." The paper gives an exhaustive 
account of the anatomy of Ccenobita, the land hermit crab. The gills 
seem to have undergone little modification, and the gill chamber is 
not at all a lung, but provision is made for keeping the gills moist by 
means of salt water apparently retained from possible rare visits 
to the sea. If this salt water is removed, a sticky fluid is exuded over 
thegills. If thegills be cut off, the crab lives by virtue of its abdomi- 
nal respiration. Continuous submersion is fatal after a longer or 
shorter time, — one to six days. The habitation of the land hermit 
crab is "X varied, — usually any kind of land or sea gastropod shell; 
i: 1 gemens J. Stanley (editor). The Fauna and Geography of the Maldive and 
ac rk on and of the collec- 
tions made by an expedition during he years 1809 and 1900. Vol. i, pt. i, Pls. 
I-V, bue ire A = = University P Serene C uà —- 
1905. be. m 




