EPICAEIDITA. 
253 
Berwickshire, found by the late JDr. Johnston on codfish, 
and on the coast of Northumberland,, by Mr. Howse. 
Tribe EPICAEIDITA. 
The species of this curious tribe are all completely para- 
sitic, and confined to members of the same class. The 
females gradually grow larger and more deformed, while the 
males remain very small, and in their structure have more 
resemblance, than their partners, to the ordinary Isopoda . 
In both, the antennae are more or less rudimentary; the feet 
are very short, and adapted for laying hold. The abdomen 
is slightly developed, and is gradually contracted to the ex- 
tremity ; its sixth segment is very small and without appen- 
dages, or furnished only with tw 7 o membranous unjointed 
filaments; the mouth is furnished with lamellar jaw-feet 
and mandibles which have no palpi; all the parts of the 
mouth seem adapted for suction, as well as for the division 
of solid food. In the male, the body is formed of thirteen 
or fourteen distinct joints; one forming the head, seven 
the thorax, and five or six the abdomen. In the females, 
the rings of the abdomen, and even those of the whole 
