74 INVERTEBRATE ANIMALS. 



described and figured by D'Orbigny and other writers, 

 exhibit elaborate ornamentation and vivid colouring. 

 One species is wholly of a bright scarlet-lake, another 

 of a deep mazarine-blue, a third is rose-colour, with 

 bands of snow-white fringe crossing the carapace ; other 

 more sombre species, including the " Broad-claw " of 

 our own coasts, have series of long and delicate lashes, 

 serving as nets or strainers for the capture of animal- 

 cules. The Hippidea are small Crustaceans found 

 chiefly in the Pacific. 

 Estimated number of species: recent, 34; British, 2. 



H Examples of Porcellana, Remvpes, Albunea, &c. 



Group 176.— ANOMOURA SUPERIORA. (Dana.) Several 

 species of Dromia carry on the carapace a sponge-like 

 mass of sufficient size to conceal the whole animal. 

 M. Edwards remarks, that the Dromia fixes the load on 

 its back by the aid of its posterior pair of legs. Some 

 other crabs have similar habits, in consequence of which 

 the older individuals resemble walking gardens of vari- 

 ous kinds of Zoophytes. Mr. T. Higgin observed in the 

 young of Hyas coarctatus that its bristles were sharply 

 recurved at the point, forming a forest of hooks capable 

 of entangling loose sprays of Zoophytes and Sponges, 

 some of which would take root and at length form a 

 thicket, under cover of which the crab might readily 

 make a prey of unwary intruders. 

 Estimated number of species: recent, 12 ; British, 1. 

 IT Examples of Dromia, Dynomene, Homola, 

 Ranina, &c. 



Tribe BRACHYURA. (Spax^g, short; oup^, a tail. 



This tribe includes all the most highly organised 



