AMONG THE LOW-TIDE POOLS OF JERSEY. 77 



our view ! Four species of Crustacea in one hollow Xaiitho 

 florida with a large bunch of ova, Porcellana platycheles^ Cancer 

 pagurus, and a host of Athanas nitescens^ to say nothing of many 

 sessile-eyed forms, as Gajnvianis^ etc. The ova of Xantho floi'ida 

 are very beautiful under the microscope ; their colour is a rich 

 golden, and the minute threads attaching each ovum to the main 

 stem, which is connected with the basal joint of the swimmeret, are 

 very curious. Porcellana platycheles is a remarkable crustacean ; 

 its flat little carapace and broad claws enabling it to lie closely 

 to the surface of the encrusted rock, we hardly know at 

 first whether it is a crab, or only a bit of the rock itself. When 

 very young, this is a most interesting object for the microscope. 

 Its claws are beautifully fringed with cilia, and its compound 

 eyes, plumose antennae, and remarkable limbs, make it altogether 

 a curious little fellow. Athanas nitescens^ although barely an inch 

 in length, of the Macrura or lobster form, is much more advanced 

 in that type than even its larger ally, the prawn, for its first pair of 

 legs are quite stout little pincers, as large in proportion as those of 

 the lobster. 



Whilst we have been examining this overturned rock, the tide 

 has gone down considerably, and we are able to advance half-a- 

 mile or so, wading several channels, and crossing several masses 

 of pointed rocks, until we come to a reef in which there is a large 

 lagoon or pool, probably covering an extent of a couple of acres. 

 All around are grey pinnacles of rock ; the bottom of the pool is 

 white with the triturated fragments of shells, relieved here and 

 there with patches of deep green Zostcra. 



Gobies, Bull-heads, Wrasse, and other fish, dart out from 

 shelter as we disturb the luxuriant masses of brilliantly-coloured 

 algse, for by working our hand-net slowly round this algae-fringed 

 pool, a number of interesting forms are obtained, Palcenion sqtiilla, 

 one of the prawns, with its almost transparent carapace, being 

 conspicuous on account of its vivacious habits. 



The Goby and Wrasse have spawned some time, so most 

 probably we shall find their eggs if we look carefully. We 

 have not long to search, for the silvery little patch on this 

 rock, just washed by the ripple of the receding tide, is a group 

 of ova of the Goby. If we examine it closely, we shall see that 



