MK. T. EDAVAEI) ON THE IIYPEEITl).^. 167 



Now, if all the herrings composing these shoals had been as well 

 supplied as those I dissected (and we cannot tell that they were 

 not), how amazing must have teen the number of this Crustacean ! 

 It is likewise worthy of remark that these herrings were taken at 

 from four to five miles from land, or perhaps more. 



Again, I have also seen them cast on shore during gales from 

 the north (Banff lies on the south side of the Moray Firth) in 

 most enormous and incalculable numbers. On one occasion, and 

 for some distance, our rock -pools were filled with literally one 

 living mass of them. But if I was astonished at this, what was 

 my surprise, on reaching the sands which run continuous with the 

 rocks alluded to, at beholding a ridge or wall of these animals ex- 

 tending more than a hundred feet in length, and varying from 1 

 to 2 inches in height and breadth, which had been washed up by 

 the sea! And, instead of lessening, each succeeding wave only 

 added thousands upon thousands to the general wreck. On 

 another occasion a still larger portion of the sands were again 

 strewn in a similar manner ; but there were none then in the rock- 

 pools. They would appear to come inshore in great bodies at 

 times, ill search of food perhaps ; and should a storm arise, they 

 are then of course unable to work their way out, and are in conse- 

 quence inevitably overwhelmed in ruin by being tossed on land. 



Erom these facts, something like at least a vague idea may be 

 formed as to the prodigious numbers of this species. But it is 

 only those who have been blessed with a sight of the vast legions 

 which occasionally appear who can form anything like a true 

 estimate of the fact. 



I cannot, however, say so much for, nor of, the other two species. 

 Whatever they may be elsewhere, they are the scarcest of the 

 genus here. I have only taken H. medusarum on three or four 

 occasions, and but a few each time. 



This species is decidedly the gem of the whole. It is partially 

 pellucid, being beautifully banded, alternately, with rings of a 

 crystal hue and others of a deep red. 



As regards II. minuta, I have only taken it twice, and even in 

 fewer numbers than the last. 



Having kept these alive also, I am enabled in some measure to 

 say that in their general manners all three resemble each other, 

 their restlessness and activity being one of their most remarkable 

 traits, and beyond the power of description. But if I were to 

 particularize any of them as being more lively and more restless 

 than the rest, I certainly should give K. minuta the character, as 



