THE CRUSTACEA 143 



than squilla are the MysidcB (or " Opossum Shrimps," or 

 " Fairy Shrimps," as they are often called). 



These popular names are very well applied. The first 

 is from the female having a little " brood sac " formed by 

 a peculiar modification of the first pair of swimmarets, 

 in which the young develop until they are nearly of 

 the form of the parent. (A similar arrangement ob- 

 tains in a totally different class of crustaceans viz. in 

 Caprella.) 



The name " Fairy Shrimp " is from their beautiful, almost 

 ethereal, appearance. They are mostly of a translucency 

 which is nearly as clear as the water in which they live, 

 the only coloration being a dorsal row of star-shaped spots 

 of dark pigment. The commonest species is Mysis chce- 

 maleon. This is about an inch and a half long, very 

 slender. It is the darkest coloured one, being a faint grey, 

 sometimes inclined to buff. 



Mysis Gtiffithsce (Bell) is about the same size, but almost 

 crystal clear. There are several other species on our coast, 

 but the nomenclature is so varied and constantly altered 

 that it is difficult to attempt a list. One little species, 

 however, must be alluded to. This is, according to the 

 latest nomenclature, Mysis (or Schizomysis) ornata. It is 

 about half-an-inch long. This one is very abundant in the 

 Channel Islands, and in Jersey its capture is a subject of 

 legislation. It is largely used there as a ground bait in 

 several methods of sea-fishing e.g. in angling for mullet, 

 and in using the " lift net." 



The little my sis is caught in quantities by means of large 

 hand nets, salted, and packed in pans. 



Many of the poorer fishermen make a part of their none 

 too heavy incomes by this fishery. They collect these 

 mysids, and sell them to anglers at about two shillings per 

 gallon. This compost of pickled specimens is locally known 

 as " Chevrin.'" 



