358 



THAT'S IT ; 



The shrimp, 10, and prawn, are 

 allied to the lobster. They are 

 10 



1176. 



taken in such enormous numbers 

 as to baffle every attempt at 

 calculation ; and when it is con- 

 sidered how many of them are 

 devoured by the fishes of the 

 sea, of which they form a 

 favourite food, it must at once 

 be evident that their numbers 

 exceed even imagination. 



The sea mouse, 1 1 , belongs to 

 the class annelida, or red-blooded 

 worms. Its appearance is much 

 like that of an enormous cater- 

 n 



pillar. Its upper surface is 

 covered with a double row of 

 broad membranous plates over- 

 lapping each other, beneath 

 which are the gills, resembling 

 little fleshy crests. These plates 

 are covered with a sort of hair 

 which springs from their outer 

 margin, and besides these the 

 upper surface is beset with 



bundles of iridescent bristles, 

 brilliant as the plumage of the 

 humming-bird, and of which 

 metallic blue, green, and gold, 

 are the predominating tints. 

 After a gale of wind, many of 

 them are thrown upon shores, 

 and fishermen frequently dredge 

 them from deep waters. 



The fish louse, or rock louse^ 

 12, may frequently 

 be seen running 

 over rocks, and 

 particularly quays, 

 where the crevices 

 between the stones 

 afford them a safe 

 retreat. They re- 

 semble in appear- 

 ance the common 

 wood louse, and 

 are sometimes used 

 as bait for small 

 fishes. When dis- 

 turbed it rolls it- 

 self into a ball. 



The sand louse, or sand 

 hopper, 13, has the power either 

 of swimming or leaping, with 



1179. 



great rapidity. They are gene- 

 rally found under stones, and 

 when disturbed leap and slide 

 about in all directions. When 

 the sun is shining warmly upon 



