CRUSTACEANS INVERTEBRATES 61 



CRUSTACEANS AND MISCELLANEOUS INVERTEBRATES 



The larger species are. usually readily observed and captured, 

 but not the smaller, rarely seen forms, which are often more 

 important than the larger ones. They need to be specially sought. 



On land, along sea, lake, or stream shores, turn over stones, 

 logs, and debris and examine the ground beneath, as many small 

 crab- or shrimp-like animals, as well as spiders, snails, beetles, 

 and other creatures find protection in such habitats. A most 

 fertile field is the seashore at low tide, where the receding water 

 leaves the bottom exposed. Small crustaceans, marine worms, 

 and other forms seek protection beneath stones and rocks, and 

 also burrow into the mud or gravel. If clumps of seaweed, other 

 marine growths, or encrusted rocks are vigorously rinsed in a 

 bucket of fresh or sea water to which about half a pint of 

 formalin has been added, many small creatures become detached. 

 The water may then be poured off carefully, or run through a 

 fine-mesh strainer, and the small animals put into alcohol. 



Many small inhabitants of sea beaches are nocturnal and may 

 be trapped, sometimes in considerable numbers, by placing a 

 shallow pan containing 2 inches of weak alcohol, or even sea 

 water, upon the beach above high-tide mark, and leaving it 

 overnight. 



For the capture of small specimens seen moving in water, a 

 small, fine-mesh, hand dip net is necessary. Such a net may be 

 made with a stout wire bent into a loop, covered with a piece 

 of fine-mesh cloth or, better, fine wire screening soldered in place, 

 fastened to a short handle. The mesh should be one-half or 

 one-fourth the size of fly screen. A small strainer such as is 

 used in cooking, if not too coarse-meshed, may be used. Nets 



