SQUAT -LOBSTERS. 193 



equally brilliant azure. Embleton's is of a more or 

 less bright red, varying from a light orange or warm 

 cream colour to a full orange, clouded with patches of 

 deep scarlet. The last is an inhabitant of deep water, 

 obtained only by the dredge ; by this means, however, 

 I obtain it in considerable numbers. The other two 

 are found, the first abundantly, the second rather rarely, 

 under stones in our coves. I have found, in autumn, 

 in such situations, several specimens of small size, rather 

 smaller than full-grown Embletons, which I conclude 

 to be the young of the Painted. The whole body is 

 pale blue, tesselated all over with black and reddish 

 brown ; the legs are banded with red, and the hands 

 are of the same colour. They have a very pretty 

 appearance. 



The whole race are very cautious and timid. With 

 the long claws, and the longer antennae, stretched out 

 to their utmost in front, the suspicious Squat feels the 

 unknown ground with delicate touches % ; should he 

 touch any object that moves, he gives on the instant a 

 vigorous flap with the broad incurved tail, and shoots 

 backward through the water to the distance of several 

 inches. At the same moment all the legs are thrown 

 forward in the line of the body, to diminish the resist- 

 ance. Mr. Couch says : " It is very remarkable to wit- 

 ness the accuracy with which they" [he is speaking of 

 N 



