CRUSTACEANS. 



499 



The last is one of the most beautiful of the larger Macrourans. Its 

 general tint is pale flesh colour, with darker shades in parts, its 

 pubescence light brown. This is generally considered a northern 

 species, but Mr. Bell states that he has received specimens from the 

 Mediterranean. It is found plentifully on the coast of Norway, on 

 the Scottish coast, and in the Bay of Dublin. It is considered the 

 most delicate of all the Crustaceans. 



Before concluding this chapter, we perhaps should not omit brief 

 notices of the common prawn (Palsemon serratus) and the shrimp 

 (Crangon vulgar is), as types of an extensive variety of form of 



Fig. 339. Crangon vulgaris. a, Anterior foot or claw. 



Crustacea, which inhabit all seas, and which perform important func- 

 tions as regards the sanitary state and economic condition of the waters 

 of the ocean. These small animals are the scavengers of the sea 

 they pick up and devour all dead matter, leaving (it may be) a clean 

 skeleton, without a shred of fibre behind. In this respect they 



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