282 MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



King-Crabs, in which the head is united to the 

 thorax ; while others show an affinity with the Cir- 

 rhopods, as the Water-Fleas, which have their bodies 

 enclosed between shell-like plates, and produce cur- 

 rents of water by means of vibratile feet. The 

 Branchipi, as their name implies, breathe by 

 means of their legs, and inhabit stagnant water. 

 The Xiphosurans have a long and spine-like tail, 

 and all their legs are furnished with pincers, by 

 means of which the food is conveyed to the maxil- 

 lary legs ; these crustaceans form the symbol among 

 the Japanese for the zodiacal sign " Cancer." 



Whatever region is visited by the Carcinologist, 

 there will he find objects for his study and consi- 

 deration. The northern shores, although numerous 

 in individuals, harbour but a small number of spe- 

 cies, among which the curious Amphipods, the Sea- 

 Centipedes (Idotea), the Stone-Crabs (Lithodes), the 

 Spiny -Shrimps (Hippolyte), the Shrimps -proper 

 (Crangori), besides the odd-shaped Caprella and 

 Cuma, will reward his research. Some of these 

 forms remain on the sands, and among the rocks, at 

 great depths in the sea ; others are found in muddy 

 shallows near the shore. 



In all seas, among the gulf- weed, the Sailor-Crab 

 (Nautilograpsus) will be met with, that same crab, 

 which in a critical moment, served Columbus just 

 before he discovered the New World ; in the dense 

 masses of floating sea- weed he will also find Ampho- 

 roidce, Sphceromata, Cassidince, &c., spinning and 

 darting about, or crawling on the stems of the Sar- 

 gassa. 



