304 
HISTORY OF BRITISH CRUSTACEA. 
mense number of small Crustaceans, which were of a red 
hue. They swarmed in myriads on the surface of the sea, 
and, when the wind was boisterous, a whole bank of them 
could be taken up by a wave and carried on board the vessel, 
covering the deck and the clothes of the sailors. The whales 
swallowed them in myriads, and they served for food, not 
only to them, but to the Coronulce and Tubicinellee which 
live as parasites upon their skin. The American fishers on 
that station informed him that these little creatures, in the 
fine weather of October and November, remain concealed 
deep under the water, but that after that time they come to 
the surface to lay their eggs.”* 
The late R. H. Goodsir observed in the Pirth of Porth 
that during the summer months animal matter in great 
masses abounds on the surface of the sea. The fishermen 
call it rnaidre . On a minute examination of this matter, he 
found it to consist of Cirrhijoedes , Crustacea , and Acalepha . 
Amongst these the moving masses of JAntomostraca were 
very conspicuous ; so much did they abound that it was 
almost impossible to see anything even a few inches below 
the surface. He adds, “ If a clear spot is obtained, so as 
to allow the observer to get a view of the bottom, immense 
* British Entomostraca, p. 234. 
