298 



THE ZOOOLGIST. 



is rare. It has been taken near Plymouth (M. B. A.), in a 

 Crab-pot at Port wrinkle in 1904, near Penzance in 1875 (G. B. 

 Sowerby), twice in the west of the county by G. F. Tregelles 

 about 1882, in a Crab-pot near Mousehole in 1900, and at 

 Scilly about 1901, and in trawl-refuse at Mevagissey in 1907. 

 In August, 1906, Vallentin obtained two from Crab-pots within 

 the three-mile limit at St. Ives. 



The Shaggy Flat Crab, Porcellana platycheles (L.), is com- 

 mon on every stony beach round the coast and in most places 

 abundant from half tide down into shallow water. Over large 

 tracts of littoral both north and south it is to be found under 

 nearly every flat stone, while at Scilly it swarms on almost every 

 stone-covered beach. In stormy weather it usually retreats into 

 deeper water. Females carrying ova are most plentiful from 

 May to June, but are by no means scarce in April and often 

 common in August, while isolated specimens of large size have 

 been taken thrice in February, and casuals of normal size at 

 Scilly in September. The Tiny Porcelain Crab, P. longicomis 

 (L.), is more or less abundant on all kinds of bottom from low 

 water and in rock-pools down to 40 fathoms. It is often met 

 with in extraordinary numbers in 10 to 20 fathoms, but on the 

 north coast is generally scarce between tide-marks and in shallow 

 water. It literally swarms at times in thickets of Laomedia and 

 Antennularia, and Tregelles found forty-four in a cast-up stem 

 of Laminaria. Masses of Serpula and of weed-covered clinker, 

 too, attract a remarkable population. At Scilly it is plentiful on 

 the sheltered beaches under stones. Females in berry are com- 

 mon from April to August. 



B. Ma crura. 



The Hermit Crabs of Cornwall are numerous, but present so 

 many variations that their identification presents many diffi- 

 culties. Professor A. Milne-Edwards, however, discussed for the 

 writer's benefit a large series obtained about Falmouth in 1887- 

 1888, and this annotated material has served as a basis and a 

 standard for the present list. Eupagurus bemhardus (L.) is very 

 common all round the coast, and at Scilly on sand, gravel, stones 

 and rock from between tide-marks and in rock-pools downward, 

 but is as a rule most plentiful in 10 to 15 fathoms. The littoral 



