THE SEA SHORE
41
rubans.
A variety of prawns and also
'; traite" far up rivers; being .apparently indi{ferent -to —the
change from Salt to fresh water—a barrier which effectively
prevents the great majority of shore*beasts froni passing
up estuaries.
'
'
,
‘
-
'
.
We
have dealt with the plants and animals of the
sea shore, very briey, it is_ true, butin SuffiCÏent detail
we
hope, to give some idea
variety- and of the
different types found under different conditions, and it is
now time to
many peculiarities:of the sh0re
beasts and the particular devices they possess-t0 enable
'
them to live and propagate theirkind in the strange ‘sectiorf‘
_. ,.
of the
surface Which they have chosenfor their
home.
;
.
.
'
—
'
METHODS OF ATTACK AND DÉFENCE
—
’
’
‘
Of the rst importance are means of attackand defence.
mechanical weapons are not parti0ulay—common
and are best exemplied:by the powerful pincer—like.:claws
Of the larger crustace'anS, especially lobsters and crabs.
In the former the two pincers are never quite alikeand
if a lobster be eXamined it will be found that one of the
claws is
larger with founded; irregular teeth——clearly
adapted for cruShing—and the
’Slenderer —With
'numerous sharp teeth andis usedfor cutting. There is no
regular arrangement of these claws which—‘ may' occur on
either side ; they are immensely strong and, in the case of
the shore crab,- have been found capable of supporting a
weight equal to about thirty
times.that of the body, whereas
a man’s right hand when clenched.is—unable to support a
_
weight equivalent to-…that of;=his own —=body!
Poison
is
_
'
’
largely used, especially by theanemones and hydroids and
’
all their allies, which possess batteries of stingingcells, the —‘
action of Which
described-on. page: 203,
overgÎëtne'
41
rubans.
A variety of prawns and also
'; traite" far up rivers; being .apparently indi{ferent -to —the
change from Salt to fresh water—a barrier which effectively
prevents the great majority of shore*beasts froni passing
up estuaries.
'
'
,
‘
-
'
.
We
have dealt with the plants and animals of the
sea shore, very briey, it is_ true, butin SuffiCÏent detail
we
hope, to give some idea
variety- and of the
different types found under different conditions, and it is
now time to
many peculiarities:of the sh0re
beasts and the particular devices they possess-t0 enable
'
them to live and propagate theirkind in the strange ‘sectiorf‘
_. ,.
of the
surface Which they have chosenfor their
home.
;
.
.
'
—
'
METHODS OF ATTACK AND DÉFENCE
—
’
’
‘
Of the rst importance are means of attackand defence.
mechanical weapons are not parti0ulay—common
and are best exemplied:by the powerful pincer—like.:claws
Of the larger crustace'anS, especially lobsters and crabs.
In the former the two pincers are never quite alikeand
if a lobster be eXamined it will be found that one of the
claws is
larger with founded; irregular teeth——clearly
adapted for cruShing—and the
’Slenderer —With
'numerous sharp teeth andis usedfor cutting. There is no
regular arrangement of these claws which—‘ may' occur on
either side ; they are immensely strong and, in the case of
the shore crab,- have been found capable of supporting a
weight equal to about thirty
times.that of the body, whereas
a man’s right hand when clenched.is—unable to support a
_
weight equivalent to-…that of;=his own —=body!
Poison
is
_
'
’
largely used, especially by theanemones and hydroids and
’
all their allies, which possess batteries of stingingcells, the —‘
action of Which
described-on. page: 203,
overgÎëtne'