154 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



A littoral species, living under stones below high water mark. 

 Length 8-10 mm. Color green of varying shades to brown. A 

 few specimens were taken on the Chimney Sweeps near City Island. 



Orchestia agilis Smith 



Orchestia agilis Smith, S. I. In Verrill. /. c. 1874. P-555, pl-4, 

 fig. 14- 



First gnathopods subchelate in both sexes ; second pair of male 

 much larger than first, with the hand oval and a notch at the pos- 

 terior end of the palm. Antennulae not reaching penultimate joint 

 of antennae. Flagellum of antennae stout, shorter than the peduncle 



Fig. 21 Orchestia agilis (After Verrill) 



and with 12-15 segments. First coxal plate small, fifth nearly as 

 deep as fourth and deeply cleft. Carpus of third pereiopod of male 

 swollen. 



As its name implies, this is a very active form and it occurs in 

 great numbers under the debris, seaweed, eelgrass etc. cast up by 

 the tide, about high water mark. When this is turned over, they 

 make off by leaps in every direction, so that it is difficult to catch 

 them, and then hide under the edges of stones or other objects. 



Length: male 10-15 mm, female 10-14 mm - Color varies greatly, 

 and all shades are found, from a light flesh color through pink or 

 olive green to a deep slate or almost to black. 



This species is distributed almost everywhere along the shore of 

 the bays and may nearly always be found. 



Orchestia palustris Smith 

 Orchestia palustris Smith, S. I. In Verrill. /. c. 1874. p-555- 

 Gnathopods as in O . agilis, but with palm of second pair 

 of male smooth and without the notch. Antennulae reaching beyond 



