MARINE ARTHROPODS 



279 



the cover of weeds and stones. Its body is of an exceedingly pale 

 greenish colour, and so transparent that it is quite inconspicuous 

 when in the water. Prawns are turned to a rose-red colour by 

 boiling, and they are captured in large numbers when young and 

 sold as ' red shrimps.' 



In addition to the common species mentioned there are quite a 

 number of shrimps and prawns to be found in our seas, but some 

 of them inhabit deep water and are rarely to be found between the 

 tide-marks. All, however, are eagerly devoured by fishes, and, on 

 that account, are often to be obtained in good condition by examin- 

 ing the contents of the stomachs of freshly caught fishes. In fact. 



FIG. 211. THE PRAWN (Palawan serratus) 



this mode of search for the smaller species of deep-sea life is not 

 to be despised, for it is a means by which we can obtain specimens 

 that are not often secured by the methods coming within the ordi- 

 nary range of the amateur's work. 



It will be remembered that we spoke of the Decapods as con- 

 sisting of two main groups the Great-tailed (Macrura) and the 

 Short-tailed (Brachyura) . Frequently, however, we find the order 

 divided into three sub-orders as follows : 



1. Macrura (Great-tailed), 2. Anomura (Peculiar-tailed), 

 3. Brachyura (Short-tailed) ; 



