THE SPINY LOBSTER. 



6n 



exceedingly plentiful in Greenland, where it forms the chief food of the Arctic auk 

 (AIca ardica). The beak-like projection of its carapace is very wide, but does not 

 project. The carapace is covered with little tubercles, and along the central line runs 

 a series of spines. The outer antennas are large and deeply toothed. The color of this 

 species is brownish, covered with red marks, dispersed in a simple, but very pretty 

 pattern, which would serve as a model for embroidery, and would be particularly suitable 

 for the heavy metallic ornamentation upon uniform coats. It is but a small species, 

 measuring only three inches in length. 



Some species of this family are eatable, and in Japan are considered as delicacies. 



SPINY LOBSTER. Paliauras vulgarls 



ONE species of these creatures, known by the name of the SPOTTED IBACUS, is a 

 great favorite with the Japanese. In this genus the carapace in extremely wide, and 

 is expanded in such a manner as to hide the feet, so as to remind the spectator of the 

 domed crab, already described on page 594. The color of the Japanese Scyllarus is 

 red, covered with blue points. 



THE well-known SPINY LOBSTER (Palinurus vulgdris) belongs to the next family of 

 crustaceans. In all this family the outer antennae are very long and stout, and their 

 basal joint is large. 



The Spiny Lobster is also called the SEA CRAY-FISH, or the RED CRAB. Its claws 

 are very small, and by no means formidable. It is mostly found on our western and 

 southern coasts, and is caught in crab pots, like the common lobster. Its flesh is good 

 and well flavored, though rather tougher and coarser than that of the lobster ; more- 

 over, the want of the claws is a drawback to its excellence ; so that it is not esteemed 



