238 POPULAR HISTORY OP THE AQUARIUM. 



consequences. I felt much anxiety for its survivance. My 

 solicitude was not in vain. After the defective shell had 

 subsisted eighty-six days^ its tenant in the meantime feeding 

 readily, the desired event took place in a new exuviation on 

 the 23rd of June. On this occasion a new animal came 

 forth, and in the highest perfection, quite entire and sym- 

 metrical, with all the ten limbs peculiar to its race, and of 

 the purest and most beautiful white. I could not contem- 

 plate such a specimen of Nature^s energies restoring per- 

 fection, and through a process so extraordinary, without 

 admiration. Something yet remained to be established : 

 was this perfection permanent, or was it only temporary ? 

 Like its precursor, this specimen was quite tame, healthy, 

 and vigorous. In a hundred and two days it underwent exu- 

 viation, when it appeared again perfect as before, with a shell 

 of snowy white, and a little red speckling upon the limbs. 

 Finally, its shell, having subsisted a hundred and eighty 

 days, was succeeded by another of equal beauty and per- 

 fection, the speckling upon the legs somewhat increased. 

 All the shells had gradually augmented, so this was larger 

 than the others. The extended limbs would have occupied 

 a circle of four inches in diameter. About a month after 

 this exuviation the animal perished accidentally, having been 



