274 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



if. r. 



[Rtftni'i Ptrt 



serrated spine in front of the head. Shrimps and 

 prawns, of which several kinds are found off the 

 Hritish coasts, generally prefer shallow water, with 

 a sandy bottom. In most of these the first two 

 pairs of feet are divided to form a pair of pincers 

 at the extremity; but in such small creatures this 

 is easily overlooked, unless special attention is 

 directed to it. It is different with the LOBSTERS 

 and CRAYFISH, which much resemble shrimps in 

 form, but are very much larger, and armed with a 

 pair of very large pincer-like claws, in addition to 

 the other legs. Lobsters live in the sea, in holes 

 in the rocks, into which they dart backwards, and 

 there protect themselves with only the head and 

 claws projecting at the opening, ready to face any 

 intruder. Crayfish, which are smaller, live in holes 

 in the banks 6f brooks and rivers. There are many 

 species, some of large size and bright colours. The 

 COMMON LOIIMKR is black when living, but other 

 species arc red, blue, or variegated. 



Sometimes, if we pick up a whelk-shell on the 

 beach, we shall find it inhabited, not by a mollusc, 

 but by a crab, with its legs and claws wedged 

 together, so as to fill the aperture completely - 

 one claw, much larger than the other, resting in 

 front; and if we pull it out, we shall find that, 

 though the front of its body and the legs and claws 



are hard, like those of an ordinary crab, it has a long, soft, fleshy tail, absolutely defenceless 



and unprotected. Crabs belonging to this curious section are called HKRMIT-CRABS, and protect 



themselves by taking possession of shells which they have either found empty or appropriated 



by the easy and economical process of devouring the owners. The few species found on the 



British coasts are all small, and more frequently noticed in whelk-shells than in a in otlu -rs : 



but tropical species attain to 



a considerable size, and may S~ ^*^^*^~ 



sometimes be found in shells 



measuring 3 or 4 inches across 



at the opening. 



Crabs are distinguished 



from the lobsters by their 



compact form, and by having 



the short tail turned in under 



the body. There are a great 



number of species, differing 



much in size, shape, and 



appearance. One of the best 



known in England is the 



large Kin Bl.K C K A It, which may 



often be seen in fishmongers' 



shops, and, unlike the lobster. 



docs not change much in 



colour when boiled. Every 



visitor to the seaside must 



, r. -/..it.] 

 SHRIMP 



4 iftcti mtiet flajt an important fart in tkt foad-tupfly 

 of London 



flint ' 



FRESH- WATER CRAB 



In ginlral afftarand very umi/ar it ike eomman i 



