8 



tliey seek skelter under weeds, or eusconce tkemselves in 

 crevices among- tke rocks or in crannies and nickes 

 between tke encrusting barnacles, and specimens are tken 

 to be obtained onh^ after a careful searck. 



Tke distribution of tkis insect about Port Erin Bay 

 is confined to a tolerably definite zone of tke sea-skore. 

 Tke insect does not wander above tke kigk- water mark of 

 ordinary tides, neitker does it appear to venture furtker 

 seaward tkan about kalf-way between tkat limit and tke 

 Laminarian zone. 



It is plentiful during spring and summer, but 

 towards autumn it becomes more sluggisk in its kabits 

 and decreases in its numbers. In winter it is not often seen. 



As tke tide rises Anuiida retreats far into tke nickes 

 in tke rocks, wkere it is able to witkstand submersion for 

 a considerable period twice eack day. Since tke average 

 tide in Port Erin Bay is about fifteen and a kalf feet, it 

 would be immersed to a deptk of about eigkt feet. Tke 

 rocks round tke skorc of tkat locality are very markedly 

 jointed, and it is in tke crevices of tkese joints tkat 

 Anurida seeks refuge from tke incoming tide. An 

 abundant supply of specimens can usually be obtained by 

 following down tke retreating tide and examining tke 

 rocks as tkey become uncovered. Since tke insects work 

 tkeir way into tke crevices often to a deptk of four or five 

 inckes, it is necessary to split open tke rock witk tke aid 

 of a kammer and a stout steel cliisel. In suitable ckinks 

 as many as several kundred Anurida will sometimes be 

 found congregated togetker and, strewii about tke 

 crevices among tkem, tkere are usually to be seen numbers 

 of tkeir exuviae, wkick appear like minute wkite fiakes. 

 Tke relatively large orange-yellow eggs of tke species, 

 arranged in little irregular clusters, are often to be met 

 witk at the same time. 



