140 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 16 



There is a large range of color variation from almost black through 

 shades of dark mahogany, reddish purple to a light red color. Fisher- 

 men speak of albino specimens. This variation in color is probably 

 due to individual variation alone. It is certainly neither a mai'k of 

 sex nor of age. Some fishermen assert that it is correlated with the 

 environment from which the specimens are caught. There is, how- 

 ever, no uniformity in these views. In examining traps laid among 

 the kelp all shades were found in the same trap. Similar results are 

 found to obtain in catches made from shore. 



ARMATURE 



The numerous spines with which these animals are armed serve 

 as an admirable defense. They are especially well developed on the 

 carapace and antennae, where they point forward, thus being directed 

 toward intruders, as the animal lies backed into a crevice between the 

 rocks. The eyes are protected by a pair of especially well-developed 

 overlying spines. The sides of each joint of the abdomen ai-e produced 

 into sharp spine-like points. These are brought into play by the sharp 

 and strong ventral flexion of the abdomen. This is a very serious 

 matter for the unwary person wlio would take hold of that i)ortion 

 of the body. 



As regards the habitat of this crustacean, it may be said with 

 certainty that its home is among the rocks. It occurs in water of 

 varying depths, from shallow tide pools exposed at low tide, to kelp 

 beds at a depth of from three to eighteen fathoms. It is well known 

 that the kelp is attached to rocks, beneath and in the crevices of 

 which the spiny lobster hides. It offers additional protection besides 

 that afforded by the rocks. Spiny lobsters cross sandy stretches only 

 at night in going from one rocky area to another. They are frequently 

 caught at depths of fifteen to twenty fathoms and I have been told 

 of a case where they were caught at a depth of thirty-five fathoms 

 between Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands. Mr. 0. M. Seeley, from 

 whom I have this information, states that he has himself caught them 

 at approximately this depth along the coast of Lower California. 

 On August 10-12 I had a trap set in water thirty-seven fathoms deep, 

 with rocky bottom and at a distance of one and one-quarter miles 



