2 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI STUDIES [^9° 



I. HISTORICAL SUMMARY. 



Regeneration in Crustacea, esecially in the Decapoda, has 

 been the subject of casual and experimental observation for 

 more than two hundred years. Du Tertre's observations (1654) 

 on the crabs of Guadaloupe are the earliest recorded. Although 

 the subject dates back far beyond the beginnings of modem 

 biological science, yet comparatively little work has been done, 

 and our knowledge, beyond the fact that regeneration of lost 

 parts does take place, is still meagre. Du Tertre's observations 

 were merely casual and not at all extended. Regeneration of 

 parts in Crustacea has, however, been studied by Reaumur 

 (i7i2), Goodsir ('44), Chantran ('73), Brooks ('87), Herrick 

 ('95), Herbst ('96, '99, 1901), and Morgan ('98, 1900). 



Reaumur's observations were made upon crayfish, crabs and 

 lobsters, and his general account of the regenerative process in 

 crayfish is especially noteworthy. Reaumur began his experi- 

 ments at the seacoast upon crabs and lobsters, but the sea either 

 carried away his boxes or filled them with sand, and he then 

 used crayfish with greater success. The following is quoted 

 by Herrick ('95, p. 103), from Reamur's account of his 

 experiments upon crayfish : "I took several of them from which 

 I broke off a leg ; placed them in one of the covered boats, which 

 the fishermen call 'boutiques,' in which they keep fish alive. As 

 I did not allow them any food I had reason to suppose that a 

 reproduction would occur in them like that which I had at- 

 tempted to prove. My expectation was not in vain. At the end 

 of some months I saw, and this without surprise, since I had 

 expected it — I saw, I say, new legs which took the place of the 

 old ones which I had removed ; except in size they were exactly 

 like them; they had the same form in all their parts, the same 

 joints, the same movement." Evidently Reaumur is describing 



