THE SPINY LOBSTER. 463 



This shooting mode of progression is not their only means of movement. By the ordinary 

 use of their legs, nearly all the species can crawl among the sea-weed, or upon the rocks and 

 bed of the sea. just as an insect crawls on the ground. And, when they are balancing them- 

 selves in mid-water, and are only desirous of moving gently about, they can do so by means 

 of the numerous false legs under the body, which may be seen moving with great rapidity. 

 Those who are fortunate enough to possess a marine aquarium, and can keep a prawn or a 

 shrimp in the miniature ocean, will have many opportunities of watching the easy and grace- 

 ful movements of these elegant crustaceans. 



The first family is called the Galatheida?, in honor of the beautiful and unfortunate nymph 

 vainly beloved by Polyphemus. Several species of this family are found on the European 

 coasts, one of which is the common Plated Lobster. This is a handsome little creature, the 

 general ground color being red, upon which are drawn a number of blue spots and streaks. 

 Its activity does not correspond with its beauty, for, according to all accounts, it is a dull, 

 sluggish creature, and, from Mr. Couch's observations, is "incapable of any motion but back- 

 ward, and rarely rises above the bottom, where, by a laborious motion of its tail, it contrives 

 to retreat from its enemies ; but its usual progress is by creeping, and by the legs only." Yet, 

 although it is thus tardy while crawling, it can dart backward with all the agility of its race ; 

 and if alarmed, flashes through the water with arrowy speed, and can hardly be captured or 

 its exact direction ascertained. 



The beak of this species is triangular, and armed with seven strong teeth. By these 

 characteristics it is distinguished from another species, Montague's Plated Lobster 

 [Galatliea squamifera), which has a short and wide beak, cut into nine spine-like teeth. The 

 color of this creature is greenish-brown, tinged with red. It is to be found under stones at 

 low-water mark. 



The small but important family of the Scyllarida? is easily recognized by the wide, flat 

 carapace, the large and leaf-like outer antenna?, and the partly flexible tail-fan, by which the 

 creatures drive themselves through the water. In consequence of their shape, they go by the 

 popular name of Flat, or Broad Lobsteks. The habits of these crustaceans seem to be much 

 alike. They live in moderately shallow water, where the bed of the sea is soft and muddy. 

 Into this sxibstance they burrow rather deeply, so as to be entirely concealed, and only issue 

 from their retreat for the puiTJOse of seeking food. In all the members of this genus, the 

 carapace is longer than wide, and the sides parallel to each other. The common Broad 

 Lobster is exceedingly plentiful in Greenland, where it forms the chief food of the Arctic auk 

 {Alca arctiea). The beak -like y>rojection f its carapace is very wide, but does not project. 

 The carapace is covered with little tubercles, and along the central line runs a series of spines. 

 The outer antenna? are large and deeply toothed. The color of this species is brownish, covered 

 with red marks, dispersed in a simple but very pretty pattern, which would serve as a model 

 for embroidery, and would be particularly suitable for the heavy metallic ornamentation upon 

 uniform coats. It is but a small species, measuring only three inches in length. 



Some species of this family are eatable, and in Japan are considered as delicacies. 



The Broad Lobsters are represented in the sub-tropical waters of our Southern States. In 

 the moat at Fort Jefferson were numerous smooth, round holes of thi'ee inches diameter. 

 Much watching failed usually to discover any living thing in them; but a vigorous spading 

 underneath sufficed to unearth a scylla of about eight inches in length. Another species, 

 smaller, is found in northern waters. 



One species of these creatures, known by the name of the Spotted Ibacus, is a great 

 'favorite with the Japanese. In this genus the carapace is extremely wide, and is expanded in 

 such a manner as to hide the feet, so as to remind the spectator of the domed crab, already 

 described on page 443. The color of the Japanese Scyllarus is red, covered with blue points. 



The accompanying full-pa»e illustration represents the well-known Spiny Lobster 

 {Palinurus vulgaris), which belongs to the next family of crustaceans. In all this family the 

 outer antenna? are very long and stout, and their basal joint is large. 



