CRAYFISHES (Lobsters). 



(i) Common Crayfish, Palinunis (Jasits) hugelii Heller. 



This is the ordinary form of crayfish so commonly seen in 

 om- markets. It is fairly abundant over the whole of our 

 coastline, particularly from Port Stephens on the north to 

 Bateman's Bay on the south. Its capture is effected mainly 

 by means of lobster-pots. Young specimens of this kind are 

 of a deep olive-green usually, though an occasional specimen 

 of a deep reddish-brown is obtained. As they grow large, 

 and after becoming sexually mature, the yellow mottlings, 

 which at first are only apparent on the lower surface, begin 

 to spread up over the sides and around the " head," the 

 rest of the body being of a very much lighter green than 

 that which prevails in the younger examples. 



(2) Southern Crayfish, Palimirus {Jasiis) edwardsii Miers. 



This crayfish is not often seen alive in our markets, but a 

 great many are brought up from Victoria and Tasmania in 

 a boiled state. It is a true southern form, occurring very 

 plentifully on the coast of Tasmania, and also in New Zealand. 

 On our own coast it begins to be abundant about Eden. It 

 is not altogether uncommon at Bateman's Bay, and occasional 

 examples of this species are obtained in Port Jackson and 

 Botany Bay. It is even found to the northward of Port 

 Stephens, and during August of the present year was obtained 

 there in some numbers. In its living state it may at once be 

 distinguished by the tyro from the common crayfish by its 

 general reddish tint, and by the fact that all over its body 

 around the base of every protuberance or tubercle, are stiff, 

 short, reddish bristly hairs, whereas on the body parts of the 

 common crayfish there are no hairs at all. Another very 

 helpful and noticeable feature is that all the segments of the 

 abdominal or tail-portion in this species have the upper 

 portions beautifully sculptured, while in the common cray- 

 fish, with the exception of a few pointed tubercles or rough- 

 nesses, the backs of these segments are quite smooth. 



