Z66 HISTORY OF BRITISH CRUSTACEA. 



enjoyment ; whilst in what are called the sun-pans, where 

 the brine is made by the admission of sea-water during the 

 summer, and which are emptied every fortnight, they are 

 never found at all. During the fine days in summer they 

 may be observed in immense numbers near the surface 

 of the water, and as they are frequently of a lively red 

 colour, the water appears to be tinged with the same hue. 

 ' There is nothing more elegant/ says Mr. Joly, ' than the 

 form of this little Crustacean ; nothing more graceful than 

 its movements. It swims almost always on its back, and 

 by means of its fins and tail it runs in all directions through 

 the element it inhabits. It may be seen to mount, descend, 

 turn over, spring forward, curve its body into the form of 

 an arch and then rebound, and deliver itself up to a thousand 

 bizarre and capricious gambols. Their feet are in constant 

 motion, and their undulations have a softness difficult to 

 describe/ The tanks or reservoirs are called clearers, as 

 the liquor becomes clear while in them, and this effect is 

 attributed by the workmen to this constant and rapid 

 motion of their feet. ' So strongly persuaded/ says Mr. 

 Eackett, ' are the workmen of this fact, that they are 

 accustomed to transport a few of the worms from another 

 saltern, if they do not appear at their own/ u * 



* Baird, Brit. Entomostraca, p. 58. 



