CRUSTACEA OF THE SEASHORE 103 



pouncing on it with its sharp maxilHpeds, and 

 allowing itself to be flicked out of the sand if the 

 rod be sharply lifted." 



In the cases mentioned above, the Crustacea do 

 not bury themselves much below the surface of the 

 sand, and do not form definite burrows ; but there 

 are many Crustacea which live in open tunnels dug 

 deep into the sand. Some of these belong to the 



Fig. 38 — Callianassa stehbingi (Female), a Sand - burrowing 

 Thalassinid from the South Coast of England. Natural 

 Size 



category of amphibious forms, to be mentioned 

 presently ; but there are others which live in deeper 

 water, and of which the habits are less open to 

 observation. 



Nearly all the Thalassinidea (Fig. 38) live in 

 burrows, often of considerable depth, in sand or 

 mud. Although now classed with the Anomura, 

 these animals are lobster-like in form, loosely built, 

 generally with short carapace and long, soft abdomen. 



