By Sir J. Hector

The following additions to the Museum were exhibited and remarks made on them by Sir James Hector:—

1. Spider-crabs.

Sir James Hector said there had been for some time past, in the Museum, a few claws of a very large crab collected by him in Perseverance Harbour, Campbell Island, and there had been some speculation as to what species they belonged to. Recently, in going through the spiritroom of the Museum, an old jar—one of those given to the late Captain Fairchild on his cruises round the coast—was unearthed, and on examination it was found to contain a new species of crab. The old label on the jar was almost worn away, but sufficient remained to show that the specimens it contained came from Campbell Island. On examination these were found to be large specimens of spider-crabs—far exceeding in size any ever discovered in New Zealand or anywhere else. They were of the genus Paramicippa, there being one male and a number of females. He said he had searched in the voyage of the “Venus”—the only exploring ship that had ever gone to Campbell Island—and he could find no account of any spider-crab belonging to the genus Paramicippa at all approaching these in size. There was one species belonging to New Zealand, but from head to tail it was only a little over ½ in. in length, and it differed very much from the Campbell Island specimen. A feature of the specimens was the peculiar pointed turned-down nose, which gave the crab a remarkable toad-like aspect. The claws in the Museum belonged to still more gigantic specimens of the same genus, which if discovered, would prove a valuable marketable commodity, and, if found on the adjacent islands, would be well worth transferring to our coastal waters. He had named the new species Paramicippa grandis, and, as he had only one male and ten female specimens, he would be willing to exchange some of the latter with other museums. Perseverance Harbour, where, no doubt, these crabs were found, was a most interesting locality, containing the coal formation of New Zealand and other geological features, as well as large quantities of fossil wood.