CRAYFISH, LOBSTERS, SPIDERS AND INSECTS 137 



North Carolina to Labrador, and on the western coast of 



Europe. It is between two and three inches long, is usually 



hght in color, and is 



found among weeds 



or on sandy bottoms 



in shallow water, but 



may inhabit water to 



the depth of fifty 



fathoms (Fig. 74). 



The southern 

 shrimps, or prawns, 

 are found in abim- 

 dance along the Gulf 

 coast and are sent 

 to the markets of 

 New Orleans, Savan- 

 nah, Charleston, New 

 York, and Boston. 



Hermit crab. — The 



, T i" XI 1 Fig- 74. — Shrimp. 



abdomen ot the her- 

 mit crab (Fig. 75) is soft, for the skin is not hardened 

 by carbonate of Ume; consequently it seeks protection by 



backing into a de- 

 serted shell of some 

 mollusk of appropri- 

 ate size. When the 

 shell becomes too 

 small by reason of 

 the crab's increase in 

 size, it is abandoned 

 for a larger one. The 

 FiQ. 75. — Hermit crab. appendages of the 



