14.4 DR. J. G. DE MAN ON THE PODOPHTHALMOUS 
Genus Mrrorocrarsus, I-Edw. 
+ 
81. MrETopocrapsus MESSOR, Forsk. (Pl. IX. fig. 11.) 
Cancer messor, Forsk 1, Descript. Animal. etc. p. 88. 
Grapsus messor, Milne-Edwards, Hist. Nat. Crust. ii. p. 88. 
Metopograpsus messor, Milne-Edwards, Ann. Sci. Nat. 3 série, t. xx. 
. 165. 
Grapsus (Pachygrapsus) ethiopicus, Hilgendorf, Crustaceen von Ost- 
Afrika, in Baron v. d. Decken’s Reisen, p. 88, Taf. iv. fig. 2. 
Metopograpsus messor, Hilgendorf, Monatsber. d. K. preuss. Akad. d. 
Wiss. Berlin, Nov. 1878, p. 808; Miers, Crustacea of Rodriguez, p. 5. 
Two specimens were collected at Elphinstone Island. 
We are indebted for a very good figure of this species to 
Dr. Hilgendorf, who erroneously described and figured Metop. 
messor as a new species, under the name of Grapsus ethiopicus. 
The two Mergui specimens fully agree with his figure. The pro- 
portion of the distance between the external orbital angles to the 
length of the carapace (the front included) is as 30:22 in the 
male of this species, the cephalothorax being more enlarged than 
in WW. maculatus and M. pictus. The front is comparatively a 
little less enlarged than in JZ. maculatus, the proportion of the 
distance between the external orbital angles to the breadth of — 
the front (measured between the eye-peduncles) being in JZ. 
messor as 80:19, but in AL. maculatus as 30 : 20. 
The anterior margin of the front is feebly sinuated in the 
middle, exactly as figured by Hilgendorf, J. ¢. fig. 2 6. 
The form of the male abdomen also agrees with that figure, 
though the penultimate joint in the Mergui specimens appears a _ 
little longer in proportion to its breadth. 
The hands are somewhat unequal; their outer surface is tery 
convex and appears perfectly smooth, though a little minutely 
punctate (when seen under a magnifying-glass), except at the 
upper margin and near the articulation with the wrist. The upper 
margin of the palm is slightly tubercular and rugose; close to 
the articulation with the wrist and at the under margin a few 
oblique, scarcely elevated lines occur on the outer surface of the 
hand; a similar line, nearly parallel and close to the under 
margin, proceeds on the outer surface of the palm as far 
as the middle of the index. The outer surface of the fingers 
is perfectly smooth and minutely punctate, when seen under a 
magnifying-glass ; and they have somewhat excavated horny tips. 
