128 CRUSTACEA AND MOLLUSCA FOB 



with the aid of their tail as a lever, they succeed, after 

 many awkward attempts, in recovering their natural posi- 

 tion. They are frequently caught so abundantly as to be 

 used as manure." This creature, if small, may be intro- 

 duced into the Aquarium; but when full grown, it is much 

 too large — the female, which is much the larger, reaches the 

 length of twenty-two inches. They arc a slow, stupid ani- 

 mal, however, creeping along the bottom, and, therefore, 

 only of use as a curiosity, and by way of contrast (in 

 their motions) to the other inhabitants. 



Our Common Lobster (Ilomarus Amcricanus — Plate VIII., 

 Fig. 2), can also, when young, be used as a denizen. This 

 species has not, until lately, been well distinguished from the 

 lobster of Europe. It attains a much greater size than 

 the latter, and is, perhaps, the largest among the Crustacea, 

 as it sometimes attains the weight of twenty pounds ; and 

 Dr. De Kay mentions one of thirty-five pounds. They 

 are found on rocky coasts ; for instance, along the Long 

 Island Sound, at Ilurlgate. 



The Shrimp {Palanon vulgaris — Plato VIII., Fig. 1). 

 There arc two species of shrimp on our shores, the above one 

 being closely allied to the Prawn of England (P. scrralus), 

 but termed, among us, the shrimp, or big shrimp, in contra- 

 distinction to the next species, which is smaller in size. 

 Tiiis, as well as the Crangon scplcrnsjrinosus, or bait shrimp, 

 cannot be kept any length of time in confinement, unless 

 the water is constantly changed, as it seems to need the 

 motion of tho waves. I have preserved it alive for a 

 week or two, but no longer. It makes good food, how- 

 ever, when small, for many of our fish. 



