MACROURI. 205 



quite entire, the autenniB resembling two slender needles, and the cover- 

 ing of the eyes perfectly transparent. 



The means of the process, and the nature of the new generation, 

 seem more obscure and difficult to be understood or explained than in 

 the Cancer tribe. 



I do not know that this incident has any dependence on the seasons, 

 having witnessed it in January, March, and November. 



If the animal, unprovided, can find a vacant shell adapted for pro- 

 tecting the iieshy parts, its species seems indifferent ; neither does each 

 require such a safeguard, where secure from exposure to injury. A large 

 specimen of a testaceous Limax, confined in the same vessel with one of 

 them, having died, the crab devoured the flesh, and clothed its tail with 

 the empty shell. 



In the natural state, this artificial covering must be changed, so as 

 to accommodate the growing occupant, which instinctively knows at an 

 early stage what is the most suitable for its purpose. However, there is 

 no necessity here that, more than any other article of real apparel else- 

 where, should be nicely fitted. 



A small specimen having occupied the empty shell of an Echinus, 

 seemed, while travelling along, to be provided with an immense turban. 



Wlien we view an animal which must shelter its bare and naked 

 parts, and whereof four deformed limbs always seem shapeless and dis- 

 torted, and void of any visible protection, we are prone to conclude that 

 the wonted beneficence of nature is withheld. 



The measures adopted for protecting all the tenants of the earth are 

 not indeed alike explicit to mankind ; many are totally secret, unknown, 

 and altogether unintelligible ; yet that there is some powerful safeguard, 

 cannot be denied, for without it how could the race be preserved from 

 generation to generation ? 



The provisions of nature are all regular and effective : hence the 

 Hermit Crab begins to breed at a very early age, even before attaining 

 the size of the small prolific specimen : — Plate LIII. fig. 6. Here will be 

 found some deviation from the nature of the Cancer ; for it adheres not 

 to the shell, but to the fiesh of the left side of the parent, totally unpro- 



