THE BRINE-SHRIMP. 



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 Apodidae, 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 required to form one of 

 these apparently insignificant creatures, is almost incredible. With the wonderful 

 patience of the German nation, Schaeffer 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 color 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 



A. 



WEST'S SHIELD-SHRIMP. Apus. B, C, D. BRINE-SHRIMP. Arttmia talina. 



E. F. FAIRY SHRIMP. Chirocephasus diaphdnus. 



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 workmen call them Brine-worms. 



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

 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 

 color 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. 



