M. E. Hesse on the Pranizze and Ancei. AV5 
after their capture. In a note the author says, “ When the 
Pranize are taken too young, it would appear that the nourish- 
ment which they find in the vessels containing them is insuf- 
ficient, as they, always perish. Those hatched in my possession 
never succeeded in passing their third change of skin. But 
when they are at their last period, it is probable that the Infu- 
soria and other microscopic animals which live among marine 
plants, and the decomposed Solenia, which are reduced almost 
to a fluid state, are sufficient for them. This is also the case 
with the Ancez, which content themselves with this food, without 
appearing to suffer from it. Nevertheless I have noticed that, 
when other nourishment was wanting, the male Ancei devoured 
their females, especially those which were weakened by the 
production of their young...... I have also ascertained that a 
male Anceus Manticorus ate a small dead Annelide which I had 
given to it; so that it appears certain that these Crustacea feed 
both upon animal and vegetable substances, but especially the 
former when they are able to procure them.” 
Hence it would appear that animal food is necessary for the 
transformation of the Pranize, and that it is for this reason that 
they attach themselves to fishes for a portion of their life. They 
prefer those which are very viscous, such as the flat fish, gur- 
nards, and wrasses ; and we may suppose that they absorb this 
mucilage: but it is easy to recognize the presence of blood in 
their stomachs, and sometimes they are so gorged with blood 
as to be as much deformed by it as if they were filled with 
eggs. 
Upon the suctorial powers of the Pranize the author has 
made the following observations. On agitating the water of a 
vessel containing Pranize, they attached themselves firmly to a 
fragment of Zostera, but without employing their thoracic feet. 
On examining them with a lens, M. Hesse saw, through the 
tissues of the plant, that they were attached by the suctorial 
action of the mouth, which formed a sort of disk. The same 
thing occurs when they attach themselves to a fish: clinging 
firmly to the fish by the two thoracic feet situated at the sides 
of the head, and also by the hooked extremity of the rostrum, 
they open the door-like footjaws which close the mouth beneath, 
and apply the head to the part upon which they desire to adhere ; 
then, by means of the orifices already described, they exert a 
powerful suction, puncture the skin with their innermost mas- 
ticatory organs, and pump up the fluids necessary for their 
nourishment. 
When transformed into Ancei, these Crustacea are never met 
with on fishes; but most of those obtained by the author from 
Pranize had this origin. Two species, however, are supposed 
