THE BEINE-SHEIMP. 



633 



leafy, and gill-like, and are fitted for respiration. Sometimes the body is naked, and at 

 best, only the head and thorax are covered with the carapace. The first family of these 

 creatures is the Apodidse, or Footless Entomostraca, so called because all the feet are 

 formed into breathing organs. There are no less than sixty pairs of these feet, all with 

 many joints, and indeed, the number of joints which are raquired to form one of these 

 apparently insignificant creatures, is almost incredible. With the wonderful patience of 

 the German nation, Schseffer counted the joints, and found that they fell very little short 

 of two millions. 



One species, the CRAB SHIELD-SHRIMP (Apus cancriformis), is found in England, and has 

 been taken in ponds in different parts of the country. It swims either on its back or in 

 the usual attitude, and uses the branchial feet in its progression. Its food seems to 

 consist of the smaller Entomostraca. The mandibles of this creature are very powerful, 

 and capable of breaking up the shells of the creatures on which it feeds. Its colour is 

 brownish yellow clouded with brown. The example in the illustration is a species 

 discovered by Mr. Tuffen West, and represents a rather small specimen. 



A. WEST'S SHIELD-SHRIMP. Apus, B, C. D. BRINE-SHRIMP. ArUmia salina. 



B. F. FAIRY SHRIMP. CJiirocepnams didpJianut, 



AT figs. B, C, and D, are represented the BRINE-SHRIMP, fig. C showing its natural size, 

 B the under surface, and D its young. This very remarkable being loves to reside in 

 water so strongly charged with salt that every other creature dies in so saturated a 

 solution, about a quarter of a pound of salt being contained in one pint of water. These 

 animals may be seen by thousands in the salt-pans at Lymington, Hants, where the work- 

 men call them Brine-worms. 



They congregate thickly in the strongest brine, while in the ordinary sea-water thej 

 do not trouble themselves to venture. The workmen believe that the continual movements 

 of these creatures have the effect of clearing the brine, and if they find that their own 

 salt-pan is without the Brine-shrimp, they always fetch some from another pan. 



The movements of this little creature are most graceful. It mostly swims on its 

 back, its feet being in constant motion, and its course directed by means of its long tail. 

 It revolves in the water, bends itself into varied curves, turns fairly over, wheels to the 

 right or left, and seems thoroughly to enjoy the very fact of existence. Its colour is 

 mostly red, and in some of the pans the Brine-shrimps congregate in such multitudes 

 near the surface that the water looks quite pink with their bodies. 



