DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNG. 799 



resemblance to the parent. For some time after they are hatched they hold on to the swimmerets 

 of the mother, ;md are carried about protected by her abdomen. As they become more active 

 they sometimes leave the mother \vheu she is resting quietly and creep about a short distance off, 

 but quickly return to her ou the first semblance of danger. A few days later they gradually 

 forsake her for good. The earlier stages of the embryo Lobster differ considerably from those 

 of the Cray-fish, as described further on. The eggs of the Lobster are probably extruded in 

 a similar manner, and are attached to the swiminerets by the same viscid substance. Accord- 

 ing to some American observers, however, the viscid substance is first extruded from the openings 

 of the oviducts and appears as a thick, globular mass, which is brushed back over the swim- 

 merets by the movements of the posterior pair of thoracic legs. The eggs are said to follow 

 immediately afterwards and to be spread about in the same manner. Becoming thus securely 

 attached to the swimmerets, they remain well protected and are kept constantly aerated by the 

 movements of these posterior flaps until the young are hatched. Without further observations 

 we cannot strongly indorse the idea of the viscid material being first excreted; but if such 

 occurs in the beginning, there is still no reason why the eggs may not be also covered with the 

 same substance as they are laid. The eggs are not attached to the smooth surface of the 

 swimmerets of the Lobster, but to the long, slender hairs which project from along their sides. 

 In that way they hang more loosely and can be given freer motion. 



SHEDDING AFTER SPAWNING. As explained under "shedding," it is probable that, as a 

 rule, the females shed their shells soon after their eggs are hatched, as there is no other way of 

 ridding themselves of the broken egg shells adhering so firmly to the swimmerets by means of 

 the tough little threads. Lobsters with very ripe spawn have frequently been seen in a condition 

 preparatory to shedding, thus, in a measure, corroborating the above conjecture. According to 

 Prof. S. I. Smith this shedding after spawning is known to occur in some of the Crabs. This 

 peculiarity is also affirmed with regard to the European female Lobster, as described elsewhere. 



DEVELOPMENT OP THE YOUNG. The earlier embryonic stages of the Lobster have been 

 studied by Prof. S. I. Smith, of Tale College, whose observations, however, extended over only a 

 limited period. They were made at Wood's Holl, Massachusetts, and New Haven, Connecticut. 

 Eggs with the embryos well advanced, taken from the females May 2, had the shape of slightly 

 elongate spheroids, about 2.1 mm long and 1.9 mm across. " One side is rendered very opaque dark 

 green by the unabsorbed yolk mass, while the other shows the eyes as two large black spots, 

 and the red pigment spots on the edge of the carapax, bases of the legs, etc., as irregular lines 

 of pink markings. . . . Fully one-half the embryo is still occupied by the uuabsorbed portion 

 of the yolk. . . . The eyes are large, nearly round, and with a central portion of black 

 pigment. . . . The five pairs of cephalo-thoracic legs are all similar and of about the same 

 size, except the main branch of the first pair, which is much larger than that of the others. . . . 

 The subsequent development of the embryo within the egg was not observed." 



lu the account of his observations, Professor Smith goes on to describe such of the embryonic 

 stages following hatching as he was able to obtain. From his long and technical descriptions we 

 extract only those portions which can be best understood by the general reader, and which it will 

 be well for the breeder to become acquainted with to aid him in his practical labors. We would 

 suggest here that the breeder himself, or some intelligent man in his employ, should familiarize 

 himself with the workings of an ordinary low-power microscope, in order that he may follow the 

 development of the young Lobsters under his care, and observe whether they are doing -well or 

 die off soon after hutching. Unless such precautions as these are taken, he might continue to 

 work for a long time completely in the dark, and without knowing whether he was making 



