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

CRTJSTAC'EA. 3154. Melita australis, HasvelhA male is in the collection from Port Jackson, 0-5 fms., alocality where, according to Mr. Haswell, it is very common.In this specimen the three anterior postabdominal segments havetheir posterior dorsal margin armed with six spines ; the fourth withtwo spines, outside of which on each side is a small spinule ;thefifth is armed as the fourth, but the median spines are smaller ;thetelson is divided nearly to its base, with the lobes acute.The species is very nearly allied to the Mdita setipes, Dana, fromSingapore ; but in the absence of specimens for comparison, I donot venture to unite the two forms. M. setipes has, according toDana, but two teeth or lobes on the distal margin of the larger handof the second legs ; M. australis has three, but tlie one nearest thedactylus is very small in the specimen I have examined.5. Mcera ramsayi, Haswell.A male specimen is referred to this species from Port Jackson,0-5 fms., whence also Mr. Haswell records it ; and also one fromPrince of Wales Channel, 7 fms. (No. 109). The minute teeth orspines on the posterior margins of the first and second segments ofthe postabdomen do not extend to the postero-lateral lobes ; in thethird segment the posterior margins are armed with spinules to oreven beyond the postero-lateral angles. There are several smallspinules on each side of the median dorsal spine on the posteriormargin of the fourth and fifth segments. There is a small notchin the anterior margin of the palm of the smaller leg of the secondpair, besides the small defining tooth at the postero-distal angle.These points, which are not mentioned in Mr. Haswell's description,render it possible that this specimen should be regarded as belongingto a distinct variety or species.6, Mcera ruhromaculata (Stimpson).To this species are referred two imperfect specimens obtained atPort Molle, 5-12 fms. (No. 118), and one from Dundas Straits,17 fms. Mr. Haswell also records it from Ports Denison, Stephens,and Jackson. As in these specimens the superior antennae are imperfectand the posterior uropoda are wanting, their identificationwith Stimpson's species must remain somewhat uncertain. Accordinglyit may be useful to append a description of the specimens,with special reference to some points which are not mentioned inthe descriptions already given of this species.The body is slender ; the head not produced at its antero-lateralangles ; the coxte of the first segment of the body have their anterolateralangles acute and produced somewhat beneath the head. Theposterior margins of the five anterior postabdominal segments arearmed with a series of minute spinules, which in the first and second