THE SHRIMP. 615 



entire claw. A membrane immediately forms over the wound, and the bleeding is 

 stopped. The new limb that is to supply the place of that which was lost, always 

 sprouts from the centre of the scar. 



THE common CRAY-FISH or CRAW-FISH of our rivers {Astacus fluriatilis} has an 

 almost exact resemblance to the marine lobster, which it resembles in many of its 

 habits and qualities. Like that creature, it hides itself in some crevice, and does not 

 issue from its concealment except for the purpose of obtaining food. It is equally 

 quarrelsome and also displays many tokens of its combats in the shape of lost or mi- 

 nute members. It is quite a rare thing to find a large Cray-fish with both its claws of 

 the same size. 



This creature mostly hides under stones or holes in the bank, sometimes partially 

 scooped out by the inhabitant, but mostly being the deserted tenement of a water- 

 vole. Herein the creature sits, with its head towards the orifice, and its claws thor- 

 oughly protecting its home. Even the sharp spikes of the head form no inconsider- 

 able protection, for, if the hand be thrust into a hole tenanted by a Cray-fish, a sensa- 

 tion is perceived as if the fingers had been pushed against a quantity of needle-points. 

 From these dens it issues in search of prey, which consists of dead fish and any 

 similar substances. 



Cray-fish can be caught in various ways. There are large " pots " or " creels," made 

 of wicker-work, into which the creature is enticed by a bait, but out of which it cannot 

 escape. There are Cray-fish nets, by which many hundreds can be caught in an after- 

 noon. These are simple circular nets fastened inside an iron hoop and having a piece 

 of meat tied on the centre byway of bait. A long string is attached to each net, and a 

 forked stick, something like a clothes-prop, used for laying or taking them up. The 

 fisherman always has several dozen of these nets, which he disposes along the river-bank 

 in the spots which he thinks best suited to Cray-fish. By the time he has laid his last 

 net, he must visit the first, which he pulls up quickly, and in which he mostly finds 

 three or four Cray-fish eagerly eating the bait. The net is then replaced, and he pro- 

 ceeds to the second. On an average, each net produces three Cray-fish every round. 



The flesh of the Cray-fish is something like that of the lobster, but far more delicate 

 and without the indigestible qualities of the larger crustacean. It is only in season for 

 a comparatively short time, and in the other months of the year the flesh is soft, 

 watery, and flavorless. 



THE next family inc .des the true Shrimps, and contains but one genus. The Shrimp, 

 which is so familiar on our tables, and which, until the marine aquaria became so common, 

 was equally unknown in its living state, inhabits our shores, where it is produced in 

 countless myriads. In every little pool that is left by the retiring tide, the Shrimps may 

 be seen in profusion, betraying their presence by their quick darting movements as they 

 dash about in the water and ever and anon settle upon some spot, flinging up a cloud of 

 sand as they scuffle below its surface, their backs being just level with the surrounding 

 sand. In consequence of this manoeuvre, the fishermen call them " sand-raisers." The 

 small prawns are often confounded with the Shrimps and popularly called by the same 

 title. They can, however, be easily distinguished from each other, the beak of the prawn 

 being long, and deeply saw-edged, while that of the Shrimp is quite short. 



While living, the Shrimp wears tints so exactly like those of the sand, that when it is 

 lying motionless it harmonizes exactly with the tawny bed of the sea, and cannot be 

 discerned except by a practised eye. When boiled, it does not change to so bright a red 

 as is usually the case with eatable Crustacea, but assumes a duller and more opaque hue. 

 During life the Shrimp is a most beautiful creature, nearly translucent in many points, 

 and when seen against the light seeming to possess some inward illumination. Its habits 

 are interesting, and can be successfully watched by means of an aquarium, though it is 

 necessary to bestow some care on the creature, and keep it properly supplied with food, 

 as it is, though so delicate, a very voracious animal and requires much feeding. 



Shrimps are caught for sale in a peculiar wide and purse-like net set crosswise upon a 

 pole, and pushed along the sand at the depth of about two feet or a little more. By 



