GQ CRAB, SHRIMP, AND LOBSTER LORE. 



Majesty's ship Plum2:)er ; and nothing on earth does 

 this rugose creature so much resemble as a large, uneven, 

 ball of half-baked brick clay, and his claim to the 

 honour of being a Crab, would be laughed to scorn by 

 those who from bashfulness had never shaken hands 

 with him. Australia, that land of oddities, contributes 

 to our store a perfect little sea vagabond, in the person 

 of Piluvinus nes2oertiliSj who is without any exception 

 the very dirtiest and most disreputable-looking little 

 scamp in all king Neptune's dominions. Cut a frayed- 

 out corner, from a chimney-sweep's soot-bag, and you 

 have his exact resemblance. Yet who shall say that 

 r. nespertilis is not a gentleman, in spite of his 

 unpromising and unfashionable raiment! 



Australia is a land of contradictions, as we all know. 

 Even exploreri names serve but to mislead and con- 

 found the uninitiated. "We have " Cape pigeons," 

 Avhich are no more pigeons than wild geese or storks : 

 " Cape salmon," which own to no bonds of relationship 

 with the family of Salmonidte. 



The " robins " of the United States of America 

 bear no resemblance to those of England, and enjoy 

 none of the love, protection, and numerous privileges 

 universally accorded to their more fortunate namesakes 

 on this side of the Atlantic. Again, we say advisedly, 

 let no man heedlessly try the strength of his teeth on 

 an "Indian wood-apple," simply because it is called 



