22 ORCHESTIID^. 



It is in the summer months that they occur in such 

 vast numbers. In the winter there is scarcely one to be 

 seen ; and when the frost is sharp, and the snow lies upon 

 the ground, the Sand-hoppers appear to have retired into 

 winter-quarters. This was first observed by Colonel 

 Montagu. At this season we have noticed their general 

 absence at Whitsand Bay, as has also our friend Mr. 

 Barlee, at Exmouth. But Mr. Gosse informs us that 

 they have been found at Weymouth, under the " half- 

 rotten beds of algae (chiefly laminaria) " all the winter. 



When captured they feign death, and often keep up 

 the deception for a.considerable time. In this position, 

 by the close packing of their scaly appendages, they are 

 more secure from the attacks of beetles and other smaller 

 enemies. Their colour when alive is a light fawn, marked 

 down the centre of the back with black. 



This species is one of the most perfect dwellers upon 

 the land that we have among the European Amphipoda. 

 They die if kept in water for any time, yet a certain 

 amount of saline moisture appears necessary to lubricate 

 the branchiae. Though residing on land, they possess a 

 purely aquatic character. In the southern hemisphere 

 allied species have been taken many miles inland upon 

 the stems of succulent plants. 



This species is probably to be met with upon all the 

 sandy shores of the temperate zone in southern and 

 western Europe. In this country we have received it 

 from the Moray Frith, in Scotland, where, the Rev. 

 George Gordon says, it occurs in great abundance. 

 Mr. W. Thompson and Professor Kinahan record it as 

 common in Ireland. Specimens from Cultra, Belfast 

 Bay, collected in May by Mrs. Patterson, and others 

 from Newcastle, county Down, collected in the autumn, 

 are preserved in the late W. Thompson's collection in 



