82 THE BRITISH WOODLICE.
Ligia oceanica Linne (The Quay-louse). Plate I.
1767 Oniscus oceanicus Linne (43), p. 1061.
1793 Cymothoa oceanica Fabricius (26), p. 509.
1815 Ligia scopulorum Leach (38), p 374.
1868 Ligia oceanica Bate and Westwood (1), p. 444.
1898 Ligia oceanica Sars (59), 156, pl. LXX.
There is but one British species of Ligia, and this, the
largest member of the whole tribe to be met
with in these Islands, usually attains a length
of two centimetres, while adult males may be
nearly half as long again. It is the Oniscus
oceanicus of Linnaeus and lives on the sea shore,
where it may be found at low tide beneath stones
and rubbish in the crevices of timber. Ligia
forms a connecting link between the woodlice
proper and the many Isopods which actually
live in the sea.
The colour of the animals is a greenish grey,
and the compound eyes are almost black, so
that they are very conspicuous ; there are from
eleven to fourteen joints to the flagellum of the
outer antennae and this feature, taken in con-
junction with the large size and habitat, is
sufficient to identify the species in question.
On the coast of Essex the name "quay-
lowders" is given to these crustaceans, "lowder" being
apparently an old plural of louse.
It is worthy of mention that Mr. Webb, when in charge of
the Marine Biological Station at Brightlingsea, examined a
very large male specimen of Ligia oceanica, in which the maxilla;
were duplicated and consisted of four pairs instead of two.
BRITISH LOCALITIES:—
England: Brightlingsea; (W.M.W.): Maldon; (W.M.W.
from R.M.): Southend; (J.A.M.): Whitstable; (W.M.W.)
Herne Bay; Margate; Dover; Folkestone; (J.A.M.)
Scotland : Shetland to Cornwall; (Norman, 49).
Ireland: East Coast; West Glengariff; Castletown; Bere-
haven ; Bundoran ; (Scharf, 63).
FOREIGN DISTRIBUTION:—
Europe: France; (25); Spain: (12): Denmark, Prussia, Norway, Faroe
Islands, Belgium ; (59).
Africa: Morocco; (16).