ever, in the meantime I began upon an inquiry of 

 another kind. This was with regard to those details 

 of their life history that had to do with develop- 

 ment and with habits other than that concerned 

 with disguise. It is now a goodly number of years 

 since these investigations started; and it is only 

 now, at the time of this writing, that I may prop- 

 erly be said to have brought them to a satisfactory 

 conclusion. But it is most eminently proper to add 

 that this could not have been so readily accom- 

 plished had it not been for the invaluable help I 

 received from a crab called "Little Jim" — so 

 named, when hatched, for the creature whose con- 

 tribution to natural history we have just recorded. 

 This crustacean at the present moment of writing 

 is alive and vigorous; if good feeding, a capacious 

 and well-balanced aquarium, and my household's 

 affectionate care are conducive to these ends, it is 

 likely so to remain for many months to come. 



But first before dealing with this spider-crab, 

 let me, for the further sake of this record, set forth 

 the following facts : The mother of our Little Jim 

 was collected together with its father. The last 

 molting of the female is the time of her marriage. 

 During this delicate period, she finds protection 



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