[CHAPTER VII.]
Prawns and Shrimps.
'Men holden ye therefore prophanes
Ye eaten neither shrimps nor pranes,'
VII.
Although abundant at many parts of the Scottish coast, at Cockburnspath (situated near the mouth of the Frith of Forth) only, has the writer met with the very beautiful prawn, Palæmon Squilla. At this locality specimens were very frequent in rock-pools situated near the shore, nor were such difficult to capture. The small net being placed cautiously over their head, the animals did not show signs of resistance, until they found themselves, by a sudden jerk of the hand, drawn bodily out of the water. Then, indeed, unless some degree of skill was used, the captives would give a powerful spring, and escape, from the confinement of the net, to the more congenial element from which they had been so unceremoniously ejected.
Prawns (Palæmonidæ) exuviate very frequently, in some instances as often as once or twice a month. No sooner is one coat thrown off and the Palæmon recovered from the weakness which the process occasions, than it commences, at first at intervals, and then almost incessantly day and night, preparations for a renewal of the wonderful operation.