47 



TAB. XXIII. 



CANCER Spinus. 

 Spine-backed Shrhnp. 



Class 5. Insecta. Order 7- Aptera. 



Gen. Char. Feet 8 (rarely 6 or 10). Claivs 2. 

 Palpi 6 unequal. Ei/es 2, distant, generally pe- 

 dunculated, elongated, moveable. Jaws horny, 

 thick. Lip triple. Tail jointed, unarmed. 



Spec. Char. Thorax with a serrated ridge and a 

 tooth on each side of it. Third joint of the ab- 

 domen with a spine. 



We should be glad, by Mr. Simmons's example, to awaken 

 the zeal of naturalists, that we may have the pleasure to see 

 our native rarities made public. It is a laudable endeavour 

 to inquire into what we possess, and in time many useful 

 discoveries may ensue. The present species would, by its 

 extraordinary yet certainly curious formation, never tempt 

 any one ; yet custom, and the delicacy of most of the genus 

 as a viand, have made it agreeable to many, nor do we know 

 of any that are liable to be particularly hurtful, for the 

 supposed danger from a crab in the nuiscle is a vulgar 

 error. 



(The wolf-fish, at Scarborough, is despised for its clumsy 

 and voracious-looking jaws J l)ut, though ugly in appearance, 

 it is equal to most fish in the opinion of the unprejudiced.) 



