CRUSTACEA. 225 



would have surrounded and entangled his legs, and then, 

 dragging him into the central vortex, would have engulfed 

 him in the body of the animal. The latter catastrophe, in 

 fact, did occasionally occur — many a Prawn making a meal 

 for a Sea-flower through carrying the joke a little too far. In 

 some cases however it was no fun, but a real combat be- 

 tween Crustacean and Zoophyte; the former trying to rob 

 the latter of some honne louche ; sometimes succeeding in 

 pulling it out from the Sea-flower's mouth, at other times 

 being himself engulfed. The process of exuviation is easily 

 observed, and very interesting in the Shrimp and Prawn 

 tribe. In the summer, Mr. Warrington has observed it to 

 take place in his specimens as often as every twelve days. 

 The small cleansing nippers and brush are at tliis time par- 

 ticularly busy, being employed not only in cleaning, but in 

 assisting the separation of the outer plates of the covering 

 previous to removal. The whole integument, after removal, 

 is entire. Prawns are very tame in an Aquarium, soon learn- 

 ing to come and be fed ; and indeed a pretty sight it is 

 to see them at a meal. It is necessary however to avoid 

 placing Prawns in the same tank with smaller animals of the 

 Shrimp kind. The latter would infallibly be devoured. 



