616 



MONTAGUE'S SHRIMP. 



method of procedure great numbers of Shrimps are gathered into the net as they dash 

 along the sand, and together with them are various other inhabitants of the sea, quite 

 useless to the shrimper, but very valuable to the sea-side naturalist. Any one who is 

 studying the habits of the marine animals will do well to pay a shrimper for the right of 

 examining the net and retaining whatever is useful or interesting. The method of 

 burying itself in the sand is by using the hinder legs as scoops, settling into the small 

 hollow made by them, and then flinging the sand over its back with its antennae. 



There are several species of true Shrimps inhabiting our shores, all good for food, and, 

 although comparatively scarce, taken together with the common Shrimp. There is the 

 BANDED SHRIMP (Crangonfascidtus), known by the narrow and rounded abdomen and the 

 brown band that crosses the fourth ring. It is about an inch in length. It seems to be 

 rather a rare species. Another Shrimp is called the SPINY SHEIMP, on accounUof five rows 

 of teeth-like points upon the carapace. It is of a rather light brown colour, banded and 

 striped above with greyish white, and spotted below with crimson. Another species, 

 BELL'S SHRIMP (Crdngon sculptus), is very small, being little more than three-quarters of 

 an inch in length. There are several raised lines on the carapace, each with a few small 



COMMON SHRIMP. -CYonson vulgdri*. 



SHORT-BEAKED RED SHRIMP. Aliens brevirostrat.it* 



teeth. In colour it is extremely variable, but is mostly drab, with little black spots and 

 chestnut specks, and is adorned with patterns of pale brown edged here and there 

 with blue. 



THE second figure in the preceding illustration represents the SHORT-BEAKED RED 

 SHRIMP, a creature belonging to the family of the Alpheidae. This is a Japanese species, 

 but at least two species of the genus Alpheus are found on the English coasts. Their 

 carapace projects over the eyes in a hood-like shape, and the beak is very small, some- 

 times indeed being altogether absent. The first pair of legs are always very stout and 

 strong, and one claw is much larger and more powerful than the other. The greater 

 number of the species belonging to the genus Alpheus live in the tropical seas, and those 

 that have been found within British waters have clearly resided at a considerable distance 

 from land. One species, for example, EDWARDS' RED SHRIMP (Alphfa* ruber), has been 

 found in the stomach of cod-fishes, mostly in fragments, but very rarely entire. Another 

 species, the SCARLET SHRIMP (Alpheus affinis), is of a deep scarlet except the claws, which 

 are marked with yellow. This Shrimp has been taken in the Channel Islands. 



Another species, MONTAGUE'S SHRIMP (Athanas nitescens), inhabits the southern coasts 

 of England, and is popularly thought by the fishermen to be the young of the lobster, its 



