84 Mr. Montagu's Description of several Marine Animals 



amorphose subjects of this order, and the defective state of 

 generic characters in the infantine progress of this abstruse 

 science. 



Should the Society consider these further discoveries of suf- 

 ficient importance for public information through the medium of 

 their Transactions, it will not fail to stimulate me to a continuance 

 of my researches in this branch of zoology, which my situation 

 affords ; and which I shall have the pleasure of submitting from 

 time to time for its opinion. 



My object is, as far as possible to ascertain and identify what 

 of the zoologic subjects hitherto described are British, especially 

 in those departments which, are the least cultivated, and in which 

 so much remains to be done. 



It has been doubted whether several species of the crabs de- 

 scribed by Mr. Pennant be really distinct : as far as my own 

 observation has gone, there appears no reason for such doubt, 

 as almost the whole of those given in the British Zoology are 

 in my cabinet, together with nearly an equal number of new 

 species, or such as have never been noticed as indigenous to this 

 country; and which remain to be added to the catalogue of 

 British Cancri. 



It may not be improper to remark in this place, that in order to 

 show the legs of the crabs as distinctly as possible, those belong- 

 ing to one side only have been delineated ; the arms, however, of 

 both sides have in general been given. In these, as well as in all 

 the other subjects, the natural size is adverted to in the descrip- 

 tion, where such figures have been magnified ; and where no 

 such mention is made, the figure may be considered as repre- 

 senting the projlbr size. 



CRUSTACEA, 



