254 HALF AN HOUR WITH CRUSTACEA. 



mistake. The common shrimp (Crangon vulgaris, 

 Fig. 139) is generally distinguished, not only as the 

 " brown shrimp," but also as the " sand-shrimp," 

 by fishermen. It is very fond of shallow water, 

 often swimming along the surface, and occasionally 

 leaping out into the air. But the shrimp is most at 

 home on the fine sandy bottom, to which the abun- 

 dant minute specks of its body assimilate it in 

 appearance. The moment it settles in the sand, it 

 throws up sprays into the water, which gradually 



Crangon vulgaris. 



settle down and nearly cover it up. It spawns 

 throughout the year, the female carrying the 

 eggs entangled among her swimming feet. The 

 eyes are placed on the top of the head. There are 

 several other species of shrimps in olir seas, more or 

 less common, of which the " Banded Shrimp " 

 (Crangon faseiatus, Fig. 140) is one. Pandalus 

 annulicornis is another prawn which, at Yarmouth, 

 on the eastern coast, is frequently eaten as a shrimp. 



