Leipzig, Wilhelm Engelmann, 1882. 4to (33.4 x 27.2 cm). Title pages, x, 201 pp.; ten fine, large, tinted lithographed plates (of which the first double-sized), with explanatory text leaves; 39 "Zinkographien" (groups of text illustrations). Original printed wrappers.

Important monograph on crustaceans of the Mediterranean Sea. The plates are morphological, anatomical, histological and cell-biological. Author is the German zoologist, student of Ernst Haeckel and crustacean specialist Paul Mayer (1848-1923). He worked as an assistant at Stazione Zoologica in Naples, but, for instance, also treated skeleton shrimps collected during the Siboga Expedition. The crustacean family Caprellidae are amphipods commonly known as skeleton shrimps. Their common name denotes the threadlike slender body which allows them to virtually disappear among the fine filaments of seaweed, hydroids and bryozoans. They are sometimes also known as ghost shrimps. Caprellidae contains 88 genera in three subfamilies (Wikipedia). Uncut. Light wear to wrapper edges, otherwise a fine, clean copy. Very rare, especially in such a good state. Modern "reprints" are no match. Nissen ZBI, 2749.