ox THE COAST OF CORNWALL. 211 



usually represented as of rare occurrence. Such, however, is not 

 the case on the south coast of Cornwall; for I have obtained or 

 inspected numerous examples within the range of our fishermen, 

 taken chiefly from the stomachs of such fishes as feed on 

 the ground at the depth of from 30 to 40 fathoms But in tlie 

 month of March in the present year (1860), I had the pleasure of 

 receiving a couple of specimens of a species of this genus which I 

 suppose to have been hitherto imknown in Britain, although it 

 would appear to be not uncommon in the Mediterranean ; and as 

 the circumstances under which they were found appear to throw 

 some light on their natural history, I take the liberty of recording 

 them in my notice of their capture. 



A fine specimen of Sponge (^HalicJiondria palmatd) was drawn 

 up with the hook from a depth of 30 fathoms within three 

 or four miles of the harbour of Polperro ; and as soon as it was 

 brought on shore it was delivered to Mr. William Laughrin of 

 this place, who is well known for his love of marine natural 

 historjr, and his skill in setting up and preparing the skins 

 and skeletons of fishes. A search was made in this sponge for 

 whatever of the smaller inhabitants of the ocean it might shelter ; 

 and in consequence, a couple of those interesting Crustaceans, 

 Edwards's Aljjlieus, were discovered in the cavities of the Sponge. 

 They were not in one place, and had sought to escape from their 

 pursuer by retiring to a greater depth within the crevices, with 

 their tads bent under them ; but on being brought from their 

 concealment and plunged into a vessel of sea- water, they amusingly 

 displayed their natural and, it would appear, fearless character by 

 their actions. The lai-ger of the two was about nine-tenths of an 

 inch in length from the rostrum to the tail ; but although of such 

 small size, they traversed the vessel with an apparently threaten- 

 ing aspect, carrying the larger claw aloft, and, especially when 

 irritated, snapping it hard, with such vigour as to be heard 

 over a room of moderate size. The sound resembled, as well in 

 kind as strength, the cracking of a filbert-nut, and was reproduct:d 

 as often as the little creature was irritated. 



As there is no description or figure of this shrimp in any 

 English work with which I am acquainted, I add the notes 

 which I took soon after the little creatures died, together with a 

 figure, which will be found characteristic ; and as both the speci- 

 mens have been added to the national collection in the British 

 Museum, they will be open to the inspection of naturalists at 

 any time. 



