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NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS ON BRITISH 
STALK-EYED CRUSTACEA. 
By Joun T. Carrineton, F.L.S., anp Epwarp Lovett. 
INTRODUCTION. 
In the course of a series of papers, it is our intention to 
record what we should prefer to term “Notes and Observations 
on British Stalk-eyed Crustacea,” in which we propose to give 
a short description of various species, together with local varia- 
tions, local names, methods of capture, and particulars as to 
habits, &c., that from time to time have come under our notice. 
If any apology were needed for such a course, we think it may be 
found in the extremely scanty knowledge of the Crustacea that 
exists even among many naturalists. At present our scientific 
publications contain little or nothing in the shape of contributions 
on the subject, and the works of authority thereon may be counted 
on the fingers of one hand. The result of this naturally is that 
the knowledge of our British Crustacea is confined to very few, 
and the difficulties, more imaginary than real, which attend their 
study, deter many from giving attention to this most interesting 
and instructive branch of zoology. It is with the idea of drawing 
attention to this subject, and of removing some of the difficulties 
referred to, that we propose to write this series of papers, and 
we shall feel fully rewarded for any trouble taken in the matter 
if we succeed in making the study of Crustacea more popular. 
If any proof were needed of the paucity of information on 
the subject of Crustacea amongst the public generally, we may 
mention that one of the leading London daily papers recently 
referred to crabs and lobsters as molluscs. This reminds us of a 
student who, when asked by his examiner what a crab was, 
replied that it was a red fish which walked backwards. The 
professor remarked that with the trifling exceptions that it was 
not red, nor was it a fish, and that it did not walk backwards, he 
was quite right. 
Probably the first thing which the intending student of this 
group will discover, is, that no recent manual of the Stalk-eyed 
Crustacea is to be obtained. This is, of course, a serious draw- 
back for one commencing the study. Nevertheless, one need not _ 
be disheartened, for with a little trouble we can find almost all we 
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