118 



CRUSTACEA. 



the tail is terminated by two short filaments. Subsequently the 

 legs begin to appear by degrees, and the branched organs entirely 

 disappear. 



The genus Artemia (Leach)- comprises the Cancer salinus 

 of Racket {Linn. Trans, v. ii.) or the brine shrimp. J. V. 



Brine Shrimp, in various stages of growth. 



Thompson and V. Andouin have both published interesting 

 notices of it. The body is oval, and flattened, with the head 

 not separated from it ; the tail or abdomen is long, termi- 

 nated by two small points. " The brine shrimp, or Artemia " 

 (not Artemis, as Mr. Thompson, from whom I quote the 

 follomng observations, calls it) " salinus, is a very small and 

 delicate animal ; when full grown about half an inch in length, 

 of considerable transparency, slightly tinged with yellow, 

 and with a biglily polished surface : natm-e having constructed 

 them with members solely adapted to swimming, they seem 

 to be in perpetual pm-suit of prey, gliding Avitli an almost 

 even motion through the water, and moving ^dth equal indif- 

 ference and facility on the back, belly, or sides : the shape 

 of the animal, the undulating movement of its fins, and the 

 glossy appearance of its coat render it an object of a very 

 interesting description, more especially when apprised, that 

 analogous animals appear to have been the first created con- 

 spicuous inhabitants of the primitive fluid, of which these 



