47 
which name it is known in England and America. The New 
Zealand species, which is believed to be identical with the 
Cape species, is known in that country as the “ Crayfish ” 
or ‘“‘ Marine Crayfish.” It differs, however, from the true 
lobster, most obviously in the first claw being much smaller 
and devoid of pincers. It cannot, therefore, legitimately be 
called a lobster, nor can it be called the Cape Lobster, not 
only for this reason, but because, as we have already seen, 
there is a true Cape Lobster in the Cape seas. If it be desired 
to retain the name Lobster it may quite legitimately be termed 
the Cape Spiny Lobster or simply Spiny Lobster. 
The spiny lobsters of South Africa seem to conform to the 
general rule as to the distribution of fishes, and probably 
other marine animals in South Africa, viz., on the West Coast 
ite weeectes are iew in number, but the individuals are 
numerous, while on the East Coast the contrary is the case. 
This is doubtless connected with the occurrence of colder 
water on the west coast. Thus only one is found on the west 
coast, while there are eight on the east coast. 
All these were at first put in one genus Palinurus, which is 
characteristic of the northern hemisphere, but in 1883,, Parker 
sub-divided the genus into three sub-genera, Palinurus, Jasus 
and Panulirus, and pointed out that these could be placed 
in two sections, the first called “ Silentes”’ on account of 
their having no rasping or stridulating organ. This includes 
thess@-p-) ctawtish, jfasus. The second section, called 
“, Stridentes,” on account of the presence of a stridulating 
organ, includes the other two, Palinurus and Panulirus. 
These sub-genera were subsequently recognised as distinct 
genera. 
Of the genus /asus only two representatives are known in 
South African seas, one the Cape crawfish on the west coast, 
chiefly in shallow water, and another found by the “ Pieter 
Faure ”’ on the east coast in deep water. The genus Palinurus 
is only represented by a single species on the south and east 
coasts. Panulirus is, however, represented by as many as 
SIX species, all confined, as far as is known, to the east coast. 
In addition to the families of the Lobster and the Spiny 
Lobster, mention may be made of another family which may 
be called the Digging Lobster (Scyllaridae), as the shell is 
flattened, and the antennae are broad, shovel-like, and well 
adapted for digging in the sand. They are all found on the 
east coast, though stragglers may be found as near the west 
coast as False Bay, and they are not uncommonly got in the 
trawl in Mossel Bay. They occur in Natal in such numbers 
as to be of some economic value. 
Mention may also be made of South African shrimps and 
prawns, the only one, however, of much economic value 
being a large prawn, which is found on the east coast. 
[C.P. 3—1918] 
