244 



THE LIFE OF CRUSTACEA 



Crangon vulgaris (Fig. 78), which is plentiful on the 

 British coasts wherever the bottom is sandy, is about 

 two or three inches long, and when alive is of a 

 translucent greyish colour speckled with brown. It 

 differs from most of the Natantia in having the body 

 somewhat flattened from above downwards, and the 



FIG. 78 THE COMMON SHRIMP (Crangon vulgaris). NATURAL SIZE 



rostrum very short. When boiled, it is of a reddish- 

 brown colour, and from this it is sometimes known 

 as the " Brown Shrimp." On many parts of the 

 coast the Shrimp fishery is of considerable im- 

 portance. Most often the Shrimps are caught by 

 means of a large bag-net attached to a semicircular 

 hoop with a long handle, and pushed over the surface 



