THE MANTIS-SHRIMP. 



471 



BEFORE passing to the next family, we must cast a brief glance at a very strange-looking 

 crustacean, called the TRANSPARENT ALIMA (Alima hyalina). This remarkable animal looks 



much as if an Ericthus had been drawn out like wire to a 

 considerable extent, retaining all the characteristics of the 

 family, and some which belong to the genus. The abdomen 

 is extremely long, something like the tail of a scorpion, and 

 terminated by a flat paddle. The cuirass is so large and so 

 loose that it hardly seems to belong to the creature, but to 

 have been taken from some larger crustacean, and dropped 

 upon its back. The eyes are large and globular, and stand 

 on slender curved footstalks, bearing no small resemblance 

 to a dumb-bell with a long and rather curved handle, each eye 

 answering for the heads of the bell, and their united footstalks 

 for its handle. The claw-feet are long, slender, and can be 

 used with much quickness. 



These creatures are natives of the warmer seas, such as 

 the tropical portions of the Atlantic, the South Seas, and New 

 Guinea. They all live at some distance from the shore. 



WE now come to a curious family, called the Squillidae. 

 In these creatures the body is long and mostly flattened, 

 and the first pair of legs are very large, and used for seizing 

 prey ; the last joint folding over serves to answer the purpose 

 of a claw. The carapace is divided into three lobes. The 

 best known of these crustaceans is the MANTIS-SHRIMP, so 

 called from its great resemblance to the insect from which it 

 takes its title. As will be seen by reference to the accompany- 

 ing illustration, the carapace of the genus Squilla is small but 

 long, and shields the mouth, the antennae, and their appen- 

 dages. The abdomen is very long and boldly jointed, and 

 the appendages at its extremity are made in a manner that 

 much resembles the fan-like tail of the lobster. 



All the Squillse are voracious, fierce, and active beings, and can strike as sharply with 

 their long claw-feet as can the mantis with the corresponding limbs. From all appearance 

 it seems as if the creatures were in the habit of hiding themselves in dark crevices, and from 

 their dens striking quickly at passing prey. 



This theory is much strengthened by the observations of Dr. Lukis, who kept a Mantis- 

 shrimp alive for a short time. " It sported about, and after a first approach exhibited a 

 boldness rather unexpected. When first alarmed, it sprang backwards with great velocity, 

 after which it placed itself in a menacing attitude which would rather have excited the fear of 

 exposing the hand to it. The prominent appearance of the eyes, their brilliancy and attentive 

 watching, the feeling power of the long antenna?, evinced quick apprehension and instinct. 

 I brought a silver teaspoon near them, which was struck out of my hand with a suddenness 

 and force comparable to an electric shock. This blow was effected by the large arms, which 

 were closed and projected in an instant with the quickness of lightning." 



The Squillse are seldom seen near land, specimens being mostly taken nearly six miles 

 at sea, where the bed of the ocean is known to be of a sandy nature. They are good swimmers, 

 darting quickly through the water by the action of the paddle at the end of the tail. The 

 GOUTY SQUILLA derives its name from the largely-tuberculated limbs, which look as if the 

 animal were badly attacked with the gout. It is taken off the Mauritius. 



MANTIS SHRIMP. Syulila mantis. 

 (Somewhat diminished.) 



