310 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



the regenerative process to regenerate a functional limb before a 

 molt occurs. Perhaps it may be of interest to digress for a moment 

 to a discussion of this question. 



It would seem most natural to suppose that the process of re- 

 generation would begin the reconstruction of a limb at any time in 

 the molting period, even though it may not be possible for the 

 reconstruction process to go far enough to develop a functional 

 appendage before the next molt takes place. Now, if this supposi- 

 tion is true, it ought to be a common occurrence to find that injured 

 or mutilated lobsters show, after molting, regenerating limbs in all 

 stages of development, ranging from minute papillae to large-sized 

 but non-functional buds. But this does not seem to be the case. 

 Indeed it is remarkable how uncommon it is to find a recently 

 molted lobster with its regenerating appendages in any other condi- 

 tion than normally functional or entirely undeveloped. 



During the experiments of the present season every opportunity 

 was taken to observe the condition of regenerating limbs of molting 

 lobsters. The result was that, out of a comparatively large number 

 of mutilated and molting lobsters, only a few cases were found which 

 showed any partially developed regenerating limbs after a molt. 



One of the instances of such a case is illustrated in Plate XLI, Figs. 

 I and II. These two figures show the stumps or basipodite of the 

 third left leg of an 8-inch lobster before molting (Fig. I) and after 

 the molt (Fig. II). Just before molting this stump showed a small 

 regenerating papilla (Fig. I, Reg.); after the molt the regenerated 

 structure could be seen as a small elevation on the molted stump 

 (Fig. II, Reg.). 



The data for the specimen on which this regenerating papilla was 

 found, is as follows: Length of lobster before molting, eight inches; 

 sex, male; July 18th both chehpeds and the second and third pair 

 of walking legs were removed by autotomy. The following records 

 were made on the condition and amount of regeneration which 

 occurred after the mutilations were made: 



