MACROURI. 219 



The female contains a great quantity of roe, occupying most of the 

 surface of the abdomen, and consisting of large grey capsules, which 

 reach maturity chiefly in June and July. On June 2d, many from 

 above an hundred specimens then proved proUfic, Plate LX. fig. 2. On 

 July 15th, above an hundred specimens being again obtained, many 

 females among them also proved prohfic. 



Their propagation, however, is not confined to summer. The em- 

 bryo is long of attaining maturity ; it escapes from the capsule while still 

 adhering to the body of the parent. 



Now, the young animal is very minute, not extending above the 

 third of a line, white to the eye, and grey under the microscope, quite 

 unlike the parent in every thing. At first only two claws and six Umbs 

 are developed. Four prongs, each bearing several bristles, issue from 

 the front of the head, on the sides of which the eyes are implanted. 

 Five segments follow the carapace ; a sixth, with the tail, terminates the 

 animal. 



The young swim actively, and congregate at the side of the vessel 

 exposed to the light. Their delicacy is unfortunately such that they 

 cannot be preserved so long as to shew the progress and completion of 

 metamorphosis. 



The natural and favourite abode of the shrimp is smooth sandy 

 shallows, near the sea-shore, where it burrows among the wet sand, to 

 remain on recess of the tide. 



It is neither difficult to be got nor to be kept. 



In captivity it speedily becomes very tame and familiar, and its 

 peculiar habits are sufficiently amusing to the spectator. Yet it is of 

 precarious preservation ; nor is it to be trusted at any time in a shallow 

 vessel. On the slightest alarm, it makes surprising springs, and almost 

 invariably perishes by leaping out of the water. Specimens have sur- 

 vived many months in my possession. 



Plate LX. 



Fig. 1. Crangon vulgaris. The Common Shrimp, back. 

 2. Prolific female, under surface. 



