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Show 26 MR. E. J. MIERS ON CRUSTACEA FROM [Jan. 14, TELMESSUS. Telmessus, White, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (ser. 1) xvii. p. 497 (1846). Platycorystes, Brandt, Bull. Phys. Math. Acad. Petersb. vu. p. 179(1849). Cheiragonus, Stimpson, Boston Journ. Nat. Hist. vi. p. 465 (1857). The term Cheiragonus appears to have been adopted for this genus on insufficient grounds ; it is referred to by Latreille, without description, simply as follows:-" g. Cheiragone (Mem. de 1'Acad. de St. Petersb. 1812)," (see Fam. Nat. Regne Anim. p. 270, 1825). On referring to Tilesius' specific description in (Mem. Acad. Petersb. v. p. 347, pi. vii. fig. 1, 1815), we find it headed Cheiragonus, the description commencing with the words Cancer cheiragonus. It seems evident to me that Tilesius intended the term Cheiragonus as a specific name for the Kamtchatkan species, which must be designated Telmessus cheiragonus, as White's generic name Telmessus comes next in priority and is accompanied by a description. TELMESSUS ACUTIDENS. Cheirogonus acutidens, Stimpson, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil. 40 (1858). Japan, Kunashir, lat. 43° 34'N., long. 145° 20' E., at 11 fathoms, on a bottom of small stones, three specimens, and N.E. of Yedo Island, in lat. 44° 27' N., long. 14° 22' E., one specimen. This species is separated from the Telmessus serratus of the western American coast by a very slight character, the somewhat longer and slenderer teeth of the lateral margins, particularly the third tooth ; yet the distinction is constant as far as the series before me serves to prove. Two of the specimens are prettily speckled with brownish red, the spots being visible beneath the close pubescence of the carapace. The carapace of the largest of the four specimens only measures f- inch in length ; and the form of the teeth might undergo some modification as the animal increases in size. It was previously unrepresented in the British-Museum collection. Tilesius' species, Telmessus cheiragonus from Kamtchatka, is described and figured as having much longer and slenderer marginal spines than even T. acutidens; and in the absence of specimens for comparison, I cannot unite the two species. CATOMETOPA vel GRAPSOIDEA. MACROPHTHALMID,E. GELASIMUS LACTEUS. Ocypode (Gelasimus) lactea, De Haan, Faun. Japon., Crust, pp. 26, 54, pi. xv. fig. 5 (1835) ; M.-Edw.?, Ann. Sci. Nat. (se'r. 3), Zool. xviii. p. 150, pi. iv. fig. 16 (1852). Four specimens (males) are in the collection, without any particulars regarding the locality at which they were collected. |