Page:Transactions NZ Institute Volume 15.djvu/112

Moera petriei, G. M. Thomson. (Trans. N.Z. Inst., xiv., p. 236, pl. xviii., fig. 3).

This species was described by Mr. Thomson from specimens obtained at Port Pegasus in the dredge. I have found it pretty abundantly in Lyttelton Harbour at low tide. The female differs from the male in the form of the second pair of gnathopoda. In these the carpus is much longer than in the male, being slightly longer than broad; it is densely haired, the hairs being chiefly arranged in rows; many if not all these hairs are serrated; the propodos is only very slightly broader than the carpus, having tufts of setæ along both sides and also along the middle, those on the under surface being the most numerous and the thickest. Palm imperfectly defined by several strong setæ at the point where the tip of the dactylos impinges. Dactylos slender, very acute. (See plate II., fig. 4a.)

In the male my specimens have the propodos of the gnathopoda less hairy than the one drawn by Mr. Thomson, and the dactylos is more blunt, being quite rounded at the end. The two acute spines on the postero-dorsal margin of the fourth segment of the pleon are invariable in both sexes.

Generic characters:—"Coxæ not so deep as their respective segments. Superior antennæ with an appendage. Inferior antennæ longer than the superior pair. Mandibles with a palp. Maxillipedes unguiculate, subpediform, provided with a squamiform plate on the basos only. Gnathopoda subchelate, unequal, posterior pair very large. Pereiopoda stout. Posterior pleopoda biramous, the rami short, conical. Telson single, elongate."

Of this genus Mr. Haswell says: "This genus, of which I have as yet observed but one species, has affinities with Eurystheus and Amathia, but is distinguished from the former by the form of the telson and the stoutness of the pereiopoda, and from the latter mainly by the large size of the posterior gnathopoda."

Before noticing Mr. Haswell's genus I had found the following species, and had begun to describe it as a new species of Eurystheus.

Harmonia crassipes, Haswell. (l.c., p. 330, pl. xix., fig. 3.)

"Superior antennæ as long as the cephalon and first six segments of the pereion, first and second segments of the peduncle subequal, the second narrower than the first, third scarcely distinguishable from the articuli of the flagellum; flagellum rather longer than the peduncle. Inferior antennæ longer than the superior pair; peduncle and flagellum subequal. Anterior gnathopoda small; propodos ovoid; palm oblique, undefined. Posterior gnathopoda much larger than the anterior pair; carpus sub-