146
A DAY ON THE CROUCH RIVER.
gracile crawling over a large mass of "ross" (Serpula). This inter-
esting and extraordinary looking little Sea-spider forms the subject of
chapter xxvii. of Gosse's "Tenby." With his usual felicity of expres-
sion, Mr. Gosse refers to it as "Mr. Nobody," and comparing its tiny
cephalothorax with its eight long, many-jointed, strongly-hooked,
sprawling legs, it certainly seems to have no body. Another of these
curious Pycnogonids occurred in a male specimen of Pycnogonum
littorale. A much more compact looking creature than Nymphon
and with its four eyes on a swelling on the first segment. According
to Prof. E. Forbes, this is a true whale-louse. Do coming events cast
their shadows, or their parasites, before them ?
Several specimens of the roughly triangular-shaped Pisa tetraodon
were brought up, all so covered with mud, in their short hairs, in
which Algae and Zoophytes were growing, that they had almost lost
their individuality. Indeed, when pointed out to our two practical
dredgermen, they declared they had never seen this crab before,
although I have no reason to believe but that it is fairly common.
They knew the Common, Spider and Flying-crab well. Specimens of
all were obtained. Carcinus maenas (the Common Shore Crab) was,
of course, in great abundance : this pest appears to increase as the
eels decrease. The Spider-crab (Hyas araneus) was not common,
but very variable in size and general appearance. Possibly some
were H. coarctatus, but I have no specimens now to examine. Two
or three "Flying-crabs," as they are called here (more generally
known as "Swimming-crabs," Portunus depurator) were captured, all
in the trawl. Their presence in the bucket was frequently impressed
upon us by a sharp nip on the fingers; these active and pretty but
pugnacious little fellows are exceedingly fond of giving one a nip, and
they do it effectually.
Many of the pretty little red-brown Pea-crabs (Pinnotheres pisum)
were found, some hiding amongst the irregular Serpulidae and others
in the Cliona-bored shells of oysters and mussels, the former for
preference. I only brought home one male and certainly the females
were much the more common, these were all well loaded with the
bright orange ova, very inconveniently so, I should think. So also
were many of the exceedingly abundant Carcinus maenas.
Hermit-crabs, locally "Fanners" (Eupagurus bernhardus) were
as usual a common inhabitant of the Whelk (Buccinum) shells. I
found one in a Natica shell, which may belong to a different species
(P. Levis ?). When these creatures are frightened and they have