MO U TH-FO 0 TED OR USTA (JEANS. 
469 
that was needful was to drop the dead animal into the water so that it should pass the spot 
where the Prawn had made its home. As soon as it approached, the Prawn used to dart out 
like a tiger from its den, its long antennae waving in great excitement, and its forceps open 
and extended so as to be in readiness. The claws appear to be very feeble, but they are 
stronger than they seem, and are perfectly adequate to the task which they are called upon to 
perform. The creature would quickly grasp its prey with one claw, carry it oif to its home, 
and there leisurely pick it to pieces, displaying considerable discrimination in choosing the 
most delicate morsels, and abandoning the remainder to its smaller companions who still 
lived in the same tank, and preserved their lives by hiding themselves in little nooks and 
crevices, wherein they were safe from their giant kinsman. The air of utter contempt with 
which the Prawn would twist off and fling aside the legs and antennae of a shrimp or a hermit- 
crab was very amusing. Its greatest dainty, for which it would leave almost every other kind 
of food, was the soft abdomen of the hermit-crab. 
The forceps employed for this purpose are those at the extremity of the second pair of 
feet, those of the first pair being used for a different purpose. Mr. Grosse has given the follow- 
ing account of those limbs and their use. After mentioning that they are covered with hairs 
set at right angles to the limb, like the bristles of a bottle brush, he proceeds as follows : — 
“These are the Prawn’s washing brushes, especially applied to the cleansing of the under 
surface of the thorax and abdomen. When engaged in this operation, the animal commonly 
throws in the tail under the body, in that manner which we see assumed in the finest speci- 
mens that are brought to table, which is not, however, the ordinary position of life, the body 
being nearly straight. Then he brings his fore-feet to bear on the belly, thrusting the bottle 
brushes to and fro into every angle and hollow with zealous industry, withdrawing them now 
and then, and clearing them of dirt by passing them between the foot-jaws. 
“The reason of the inbending of the tail is manifest. The brushes could not else reach 
the hinder joints of the body, and still less the swimming-plates, but by this means every part 
is brought within easy reach. Sometimes the brushes are inserted between the edge of the 
carapace and the body, and are thrust to and fro, penetrating to an astonishing distance, as 
may be distinctly seen through the transparent integument. Ever and anon the tiny forceps 
of the hand are employed to seize and pull off any fragment of extraneous matter which clings 
to the skin too firmly to be removed by brushing ; it is plucked off and thrown away clear of 
the body and limbs. The long antennae and all the other limbs are cleaned by means of the 
foot- jaws principally.” 
The Sword- shrimp, a native of Japan, belongs to another family, termed the Penaddse. 
All the members of this family have a very long and much compressed abdomen, and the 
beak very small or absent. One of them is the Grooved Shrimp (Penceu-s sulcatus ), a com- 
mon species in the Mediterranean. It has three grooves on the carapace, two long and one 
shorter in the middle. It is a large species, sometimes attaining the length of seven inches. 
Another species is the Sivado, sometimes called the Sword-shrimp, or the White 
Shrimp, the last-mentioned term, however, being applied very loosely by the fishermen. It is 
a very beautiful little creature, being of a translucent white color, dashed and spotted with 
rich crimson. It is said that this species cannot endure exposure to the air, and that it dies 
immediately on being removed from the water. 
MOUTH-FOOTED CRUSTACEANS; STOMAPODA. 
Another order of crustaceans now comes before us, called the Stomapoda, or Mouth- 
footed Crustaceans, so called because their legs mostly issue from the neighborhood of the 
mouth. The gills are external, and are formed in a most curious manner of a series of tiny 
cylinders. The greater number of Stomapods live in the hotter seas, but a few are inhabitants 
of the English coasts. 
