NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



serrated dactylus folding back on the 

 propodus like a knife blade. The tail 

 fin is large and armed with spines, 

 which can give a severe dig if the 

 animal is handled incautiously. 



It inhabits burrows of its own con- 

 struction, 15-20 mm in diameter, in 

 the soft mud in shallow water. 



Length 15-25011. Color yellowish 

 with green, brown and yellow mark- 

 ings. 



Taken at Cold Spring Harbor and 

 may be found within the city limits. 



Order 5 CUMACEA 

 A small order of Malacostraca, in 

 which the anterior part of the body is 

 very much larger than the posterior. 

 A carapace is present, covering the 

 anterior segments and leaving never 

 more than five segments exposed. 

 Abdomen cylindric, flexible, of six segments, the fifth longest. 



The members of this order are bottom forms, extending to very 

 great depths and reaching their greatest development in colder 



Fig. 18 Diastylus q u a d r i s p i n osa Sars (After Verrill) 



waters. None have been taken so far in New York city, but several 

 species will probably be obtained by dredging. 



The species of Diastylus figured is common, according to Verrill, 

 on soft muddy bottoms in Vineyard sound. 



