290 ARTICULATA. CRUSTACEA. 



the breadth of two or three yards, stretching along 

 the coast as far as the eye could reach, and always 

 retiring with the water. When this cloud came to 

 be examined, it proved to be nothing else than so 

 much space filled with young Shrimps,* in the act of 

 bounding into the air from the shallow margin of 

 the water, or from the wet sand. If any motion of 

 a mute animal could express delight, it was this ; if 

 they had meant to make signs of their happiness, 

 they could not have done it more intelligibly. Sup- 

 pose then, what I have no doubt of, each individual 

 of this number, to be in a state of positive enjoy- 

 ment ; what a sum, collectively, of gratification and 

 pleasure, have we here before our view !"f 



Shrimps are often taken by women and children 

 wading to the knees, with a net fixed to a pole, 

 the end of which is placed against the breast. In 

 walking, the edge of the net is pushed along the 

 ground, and the Shrimps, endeavouring to escape, 

 are caught in the bag of the net, The fishermen in 

 boats go into deeper water, and use nets, which 

 they drag on the bottom by heavy weights. The 

 principle, however, is the same. When alive they 

 are of a greenish hue, but change by boiling, to the 

 reddish brown they afterwards assume. The Lon- 

 don market is supplied chiefly from the south- 

 eastern coast. 



* It is possible, however, that these may have been Sand-hoppers, 

 (Talitrus, &c.,) belonging to another Order of the Crustacea. 

 t Brougham and Bell's Edit. Vol. ii. p. 113. 



