604 THE FOOD FISHES. 



and have similar habits. A rarer form of this genus, P. harrisi, is found at a point nearer 

 high water. 



It was originally discovered on Charles River, near Boston. The Panopeus is a southern 

 genus — that is, they all extend southward to Florida and the Gulf coasts, but do not often 

 appear north of Cape Cod. The Tautog lives largely upon them. The Lobster (Homarus 

 americanus) is sometimes found lurking under large rocks at low water, hut less commonly 

 here than farther north. If constitutes an article of food for many of the larger fishes. 

 Hermit Crabs are abundant, of the smaller kinds. Eupagurus longica/rpus is common. They 

 exhibit the same pugnacity that is seen in the other and larger species, ever ready to give 

 battle, and as quickly becoming cowards when anything like equality of powers is ascertained, 

 when they retire with alacrity, and remain ensconced behind their coat of mail, or within their 

 fortified castle. The curiosity of the creature is often the means of its final discomfiture, as 

 once it peeps forth from its sally-port, or lets down the portcullis, his enemy is ready to give 

 battle, and if the odds are against him. he is dragged forth. — wise if he immediately deserts 

 the ground, as the victor only desires unconditional surrender, full jwssession of the garrison, 

 the vanquished being allowed to march out with side-arms and personal equipments intact. 

 Should any resistance take place on the part of the conquered, a pitched battle ensues, and 

 it is beyond conjecture who beats. This wonderful epitome of the typical battle of old. where 

 the castle is assailed, is shown, of course, with much greater interest when the large Hermit 

 Crabs of the wanner waters, that occupy the great horse eonchs, fourteen inches in diameter, 

 are the combatants. A larger species, the largest known in our New England waters, is occa- 

 sionally seen, but it lives in deeper water. It occupies the cast-off shells of Natica lirros and 

 Fiilqur carica. This is devoured by Sharks and Sting-rays. 



A very large portion of the food of our most valuable food fishes, both of fresh and salt 

 water, is made up of the Amphipods. small crustaceans, occurring in vast numbers. The com- 

 mon "•Beach flea," familiar to all who have noticed the decomposed sea-weeds which abound 

 with them, called Orchestia agilis, is found among the stones at low tide. Both names allude 

 1 to the extreme agility of the creature. A larger species, Gammarus omatus, is about an inch 

 and a half long. It is these creatures that so quickly destroy the Mesh of any carcase left in 

 the sea near shore ; their myriads soon leave a clean skeleton in place of a bulky animal ; and 

 this circumstance has been often utilized by naturalists in the preparation of skeletons. 



There are other orders well represented here, all forming important items in the mass of 

 food for our edible lishes. The Isopods. which bear so much resemblance to the " Pill-bugs" 

 of the land, are common. A large example is the Idotea, nearly an inch in length. They live 

 on the variously colored rock-weed, and have certain markings of color, which often seems to 

 be intentionally protective ; but the fishes tind them nevertheless. There is a decidedly phos- 

 phorescent Species. 



There are some curious forms of crustaceans that, from their peculiar shapes and appen- 

 dages, cannot fail to arrest the attention of observers, though it is true that many of them are 

 repulsive <>r uninteresting. We would particularly mention the Caprella. The entirely unique 

 shape of this little creature, as viewed from the standpoint of our limited acquaintance with 

 such forms many years since, rendered it for a long time a marvel for the aquarium : its brill- 

 iant red color was not the least charming feature. Tn those times the species of crustaceans 

 were very few.- that we actually were acquainted with. The Caprella was seldom found except- 

 ing when dredging in shore depths. Its brilliant color, though it was not over an inch in 

 length, was emphasized when if crawled over the bright green algse fronds; and its protection 

 was seemingly well assured when it crawled over the rich scarlet colored branches of other sea- 

 weeds. This creature so completely imitated the geometer-moth larva? that it seemed out of 

 place in sea-water. Like the geometrids among land-insects, this little crustacean would stand 

 with its body stiffened and clasping a branch of hydroids by the posterior legs, very closely 

 thereby imitating the branches of hydroids and algse among which they live: the curiously 

 formed and ragged looking legs standing out quite in resemblance of those animal and vege- 

 table forms. Their method of locomotion is exactly like that of those geometer-moth larva 1 , 

 ( ]• inch-worms. 



