Page:VCH Kent 1.djvu/287

 CRUSTACEANS IN the early part of the eighteenth century the natural history of Kent could be collected by an impartial hand without the least notice of crustaceans as forming part of the fauna. Yet indirectly the historian in question shows that the county is supremely well fitted to produce and harbour a great many species of this class, for he says : ' besides divers Bays and Creeks by the Thames and Sea-Side, there are sundry fresh Rivers and pleasant Streams ; as the Medway, Darent, and Stowre, besides sundry Rivulets and Brooks, which supply the Inhabitants with Plenty of Fish, yet not to equal some other maritime Counties in Quantity, or Variety, except in their Oysters, found in the East Swale or near Faversham.' ' He also mentions several plants as growing in ditches, brooks, salt marshes, and on the sea-shore. If it be added that the county lies between the waters of the North Sea and those of the English Channel, and that its land surface is richly diversified with woods, gardens, hedgerows, lanes and quarries, almost every favourable circumstance will appear to be combined for supplying it plentifully with crustaceans of various orders and diversified modes of life. The actual abundance of species is being gradually established by direct observation. Of the genuine Brachyura a fair proportion are on record from the waters of Kent. These short-tailed decapods, with the nervous system highly concentrated, are the true crabs. They are rightly regarded as standing at the head of the Malacostraca. The most familiar British form and that which with us attains the largest size is Cancer pagurus, Linn., known as the great crab or the eatable crab. Bell notices that the family Bythesea of Kent is one of those that ' bear this animal in their coat-armour.' '^ In the British Association Handbook to Dover, (1899), Messrs. Sydney Webb and Edward Horsnaill, treating of ' Sea Life,' say that Cancer pagurus frequents the laminarian zone, but small specimens may often be found between tide-marks.' This is true of many places besides Dover, for the species is found all round our coasts and often in great abundance. The estimate regarding it, that a large female can carry on its swimmerets three millions of eggs and that even a small one can have half a million^ may help to explain the plentiful- ness. Experts, however, agree in strongly deprecating a wasteful use of 1 Magna Britannia et Hibernia, Antiqua et Nova. . . . Collected and Composed by an impartial Hand, ii. 1 194 (1720). 2 British Stalk-eyed Crustacea, p. 66. ' H. C. Williamson, Fishery Board for Scotland, Ann. Rep. xviii. pt. 3, 89 (1900).