200 POPULAR HISTORY OF THE AQUARIUM. 



Chirocephalus DIAPHANUS. 



This is one of the most beautiful kinds, frequenting pools 

 of water. Erom its general form and exquisite transparency 

 it has been called the " Fairy Shrimp.''^ " They swim upon 

 their back ; and in fine warm weather, when the sun is not 

 too strong, they may be seen balancing themselves, as it were, 

 near the surface by means of their branchial feet, which are 

 ill constant motion. On the least disturbance however 

 they strike the water rapidly with their tail from right to 

 left, and dart away like a fish, and hasten to conceal them- 

 selves by diving into the soft mud, or amongst the weeds at 

 the bottom of the pool. Tliey are nearly transparent, and 

 are of a reddish colour, with a slight tinge of blue in some 

 parts." "When placed in a glass of clear water," says 

 Prevost, " the elegance of its form, the ease and softness of 

 its movements, its silvery transparency or its brilliant co- 

 lours, its large black eyes, the small spot which it carries 

 on its head, the crown of the male, are a beautiful sight, 

 which the most indifferent observers cannot see without 

 pleasure." When young the eyes of this little crustacean 

 are represented by a single spot between the antennae in 

 front of the head ; a pair of well developed pedunculated 



