240 THE LIFE OF CRUSTACEA 



females carrying spawn, or, as it is termed, *Mn 

 berry," is prohibited. 



The so - called " Norway Lobster " {Nephrops 

 norvegicus — Plate XXX.), the " Dublin Prawn " of the 

 London fishmongers, is a smaller and much less 

 valuable species than the common Lobster. It may 

 be recognized at once by its long and slender claws, 

 furnished with rows of tubercles or blunt spines, and 

 by the sculptured markings on the somites of the 

 abdomen. When alive it is of an orange colour, 

 beautifully marked with red and white. It differs 

 considerably in its habits from the common Lobster, 

 living at a considerably greater depth (30 to 60 

 fathoms in Norway), and on a muddy bottom. It is 

 generally taken by trawling, and is captured in large 

 quantities by trawlers fishing in various parts of the 

 North Sea. Since it must be cooked soon after it is 

 caught, and cannot easily be brought to market alive 

 like the common Lobster, only a small number of 

 those actually caught are made use of. Formerly most 

 of those sold in London were caught in the Irish 

 Sea (whence the name of " Dublin Prawn "), but the 

 North Sea is now the chief source of supply. The 

 species is found in suitable localities from Norway 

 to the Mediterranean, and is especially abundant in 

 the Adriatic, where it is caught and sold in Venice 

 and elsewhere under the name of '* Scampo." 



The Spiny Lobster, Rock Lobster, or Sea-craw- 

 fish {Palinurus vulgaris— Finite V.), is common on the 



