Of the shrimp. 



1 HAVE often rctleded on the nature of fome forts of Ihell-filli, 

 fuch as Shrimps, Lobfters, and Crabs, in this rcfped only, that 

 they bear their mukitudes of eggs on the outfide of their bodies, 

 which, if we retled, mull neceflarily be fo, for othcrwife it would 

 be impolTible for thofe filh to produce fo great a quantity of young 

 as we find they do, becaufe their bodies being covered with an hard 

 fliell, cannot be dillended, and would not allow fpace for the 

 growth of their eggs, if they were always within their bodies.- 



The eggs of our Sea Shrimps are not produced and brought to 

 maturity at any one particular time of the year as is the cafe with 

 moll other fifli ; for I obferve Shrimps to have eggs at all times of 

 the year ; I fpeak here only of thofe Shrimps which are caught 

 near this coall ; for I am told that the Shrimps about Amilcrdam, 

 at fome feafons, are all loaded with eggs, and the remainder of the 

 vear are dellitute of them. 



But what I obferved beyond my expedation, and which is well 

 worthy of note is this : tiiat every Shrimp's egg, when come to 

 maturity, contained in it nothing but a complete minute Shrimp, 

 which not only I could fee lying in the egg in a circular polition, 

 with the tail turned over its head and laying on the back ; but, 

 when taken out of the Ihell, I could fee fome of its fcales, toge- 

 ther with the tail and fins ; alfo the head and eyes, and thofe limbs 

 or organs \\ hich iflue from the head, and which lay as it were folded 

 together near the feet. In fliort. Shrimps are completely formed 

 in the eggs before they are feparated from the parent. 



Thefe eggs, for the realbn I have mentioned, not being capable 

 of expanlion within the body of the Shrimp, -are carried about by 



