Report on the zoological collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean ...

274 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA.with two or three strong triangular teeth on its inner margin ;palmabout as long as the wrist, and with the lower finger almost triangulatein shape ; the outer surface of the palm is divided by foursulci into five longitudinal, smooth, rounded ridges, including therather less prominent line or ridge along the lower margin of thepalm ; the fingers are smooth, scarcely denticulated on their innermargins, incurved at the tips, and have between them (when closed)a more or less distiuct hiatus ; the first to third ambulatory legshave the joints (except the last) armed with small tubercles orprominences on their upper margins ; the dactyli have severalspinules on their lower margins. The colour (of spirit-specimens)is white, faintly tinged or spotted with pink. Length 2^ lines(5 millim.) ; breadth a little over 2| lines (nearly 6 millim.).Two specimens (male and female) are in the first collection—oneobtained at Port MoUe, 5-12 fms. (No. 118), and the other atAlbany Island, 3-4 fms. In the second collection are eight specimens(male and female) obtained at Thursday Island in 3-4 fms.(No. 177), 4-5 fms. (No. 165). Mr. Hasvvell records it also fromHolborn Island.This species cannot be confounded with any of the species ofPacliyclieles mentioned by Dr. Stimpson in his very useful Synopsisof the Anomura * ; and in its slenderer chelipedes approaches Porcellana,to which genus Mr. Haswell refers it.Tn two specimens from Prince of Wales Channel, 7 fms. (Nos.142, 169), which are probably not distinct, the chelipedes are moreunequal and smoother. One example has the left chelipede muchenlarged, the ridges on the palm separated by wide interspaces, andthe fingers strongly arcuated.18. Porcellana nitida, Haswell, var. rotundifrons.(Plate XXX. fig. B.)Carapace smooth, shining, everywhere striated ; the striae shortand interrupted. The front is rather prominent, transverse, andvery obscurely 3-lobed ; the median lobe very broad and rounded ;the lateral lobes (or inner orbital angles) also rounded and small.Behind the outer orbital angle, which is dentiform, is a second acutetooth, and behind this a rounded prominence ; there is a small toothon the subhepatic region. The basal joint of the antennae is veryshort, the second and third longer, and the fourth very short ; theflagellum naked ; the ischium-joint of the outer maxillipedes has aspine on its outer margin ; the inner margin of the merus is producedinto a thin lobe at base, the following joint is robust. Thechelipedes are robust and elongated, the joints are smooth ; thearm and wrist have their inner margins cristiform and acute andentire ; the arm is very short, the wrist somewhat longer ; thelarger palm (in an adult male) is robust and considerably elongated,its upper margin rounded ; the fingers are shorter than the palm,* Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. p. 225 (1858).