Proceedimis. 98 



our coast could be well worked, not only would many rare 

 species be found in abundance, but that others would be 

 taken which may now be considered as foreign to our shores. 

 There is, however, no siabject more interesting than the study 

 of these remarkable animals ; and as so many of them serve as 

 articles of food, it is no doubt most probable that they will 

 receive more attention from naturalists than they have done 

 hitherto, especially as greater facilities are now offered for 

 obtaining specimens, and a means found not only to preserve 

 their exoskeletons satisfactorily, but even to make them an 

 attractive object for the cabinet. 



During my comparatively short acquaintance with the 

 Crustacea, confined, I regret to say, almost entirely to the 

 South Coast and the Channel Islands, I have observed many 

 interesting features regarding them, which may prove at- 

 tractive, and which I have gathered together for my remarks 

 this evening. 



Without going into any sort of description of the Decapod 

 Crustaceae, it is as well to mention that they are subdivided 

 into three very distinct and easily recognised tribes, viz., 

 the Macroura or lobster form, embracing the Lobster, Prawn, 

 Shrimp, &c. ; the Brachyura or true Crab form, of which our 

 Edible Crab and Shore Crab are types ; and an intermediate 

 tribe, the Anomoura, embracing what at first sight appear to 

 be true Crabs and true Lobsters, but having this remarkable 

 characteristic — that they have only eight true legs, the fifth 

 pair being rudimentary. This tribe includes the Galatheas, 

 the Stone Crabs, and all the Hermits or Soldier Crabs. 



Now, taking the Macroura or Lobster form first, I will not 

 waste time with those with which we are all familiar, beyond 

 mentioning that two years ago I was sent for to see and describe 

 a very curious specimen of the common Lobster. It was of a 

 beautiful pink colour, with light red antennae ; and as it was 

 alive and vigorous when I examined it, there was no doubt 

 as to its being the right colour of the animal, which I consider 

 to have been an albino. There was for some time in the tank 

 at the Eoyal Aquarium a fine old Lobster of a pale slaty-blue 

 colour, but this variety is not so rare. 



