PORTUNIJS. 
51 
beautiful, particularly in the males. Buff, light brown, 
deeper brown, and browni sh-red, are arranged over the 
carapace in varied but always exactly symmetrical patterns. 
The only way in which these beautiful markings can be 
preserved is, by raising the carapace, taking out the soft 
parts, and drying the specimens in a shady place in a brisk 
current of air.” At Sandgate, in May 1844, Mr. Bell pro- 
cured nearly four hundred specimens of this species at two 
casts of the dredge ; and he remarks that “ it is very curious 
to observe how local these cleansers are. In the former 
year, at Bognor, I found multitudes of Portunus Rondeletii , 
which absolutely swarmed in the Prawn and Lobster-pots ; 
but not a specimen of any other species was obtained there. 
The place of these is supplied at Sandgate by the present 
species, whilst farther to the west P. puber and P. depuralor 
appear to occupy the ground, and perform the same im- 
portant office of scavengers of the sea.”^ 
Portunus pusillus, Leach. Dwarf Fin Crab. — Cara- 
pace very convex and bossed, without hairs ; front project- 
ing much, divided into three lobes, central one projecting 
beyond the side one; hind legs with the tarsus lanceolate. 
Hab. British coast, from Shetland to Cornwall. In the 
* British Crustacea, p. 106. 
