130 HISTORY OF BRITISH CRUSTACEA. 



with red specks, which, when magnified, are seen to be stars. 

 Besides these colours, there are scattered over the body, in 

 symmetrical order, several spots of opaque cream-white, 

 and some of pale chestnut or fawn-brown. And to close 

 this enumeration of colours, the claws and feet are light 

 blue, encircled at regular distances by bands of which half 

 is deep purple, and the other half pale orange. I have not 

 spoken of the fringes of the jaw-plates, nor of those that 

 terminate the tail-fin, but the structure of these is exqui- 

 sitely fine, especially when examined with a lens." 



Mr. Gosse says,* "It is pretty to see the Prawn fed. 

 When a morsel of food is dropped through the water near 

 its head, the excessively long antennae (especially the long 

 filaments of the superior pair, which are carried perpendi- 

 cularly upwards) seem principally to take cognizance of its 

 presence and of its qualities. The eyes, though evidently 

 alert, are 1 think less trusted. As the morsel comes within 

 reach, the second feet, the principal organs of prehension, 

 are stretched out, with the two fingers widely extended ; 

 these seize it with the most easy action possible, and in a 

 moment thrust it towards the mouth." Mr. Gosse, at 

 another part of the volume, has shown that the first pair, 



* Aquarium, p. 173. 



