MAEINE AETHEOPODS 



275 



If one remains perfectly still for a time, a pair of waving antennae 

 may be seen gradually protruding from the safe retreat ; but, as soon 

 as the stalked eyes have advanced sufficiently to detect the figure 

 of a stranger, the lobster silently withdraws itself till quite out of 

 sight. 



Lobsters, usually of rather small size, may often be seen quite 

 out of the water at low tide, in the narrow chinks of the rock, or 

 under large stones, but it is no easy matter, as a rule, to get them 

 out. It is of little use poking a stick into the entrance of their 

 hiding-places, though occasionally they will grasp the stick so 

 tenaciously with their forceps that they may be pulled within reach. 



FIG. 207. THE SPINY LOBSTEK (Palinurtts vulgaris) 



You may be able to haul them out by their long antennae, but if you 

 can find a second way into their home such that you can disturb 

 them from behind you are pretty sure of your victim. 



It will be unnecessary to describe other species of lobsters 

 individually, but we have introduced figures of a few for identifi- 

 cation. The Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) is often landed 

 in large numbers by the fishermen of the east and south-east coasts 

 and sold at a shilling or so a dozen under the name of Norway 

 Prawns. They are pretty and interesting creatures, and may be 

 easily kept alive in the indoor aquarium, where they may be fed on 

 any kind of fish. 



