CRABS. 245 



it escapes from the egg, or a short time after, is perfectly 

 transparent, the thoracic portion of the body is sHghtly 

 opaque, and the eyes are black. The abdomen however is 

 perfectly translucent, and the observer requires to look very 

 attentively before it can be defined. On being excluded 

 from the egg, the young animal is doubled upon itself; the 

 abdominal portion of the body is bent closely under the 

 thoracic portion ; and it is kept in this position by means 

 of a thin sac or membrane. It very soon frees itself from 

 this by a few violent efforts ; and then the antennae, the feet, 

 and the abdomen all become free and extended. The proxi- 

 mate half of the abdomen only is confined within the sac ; 

 the distant half is quite free. The Zoe of this species is 

 destitute of spines ; the spine on the dorsum of the carapace 

 and the frontal spine being absent. As soon as the young 

 animal frees itself of the sac before mentioned, the thorax 

 apparently becomes much smaller. This arises from the 

 contents of the sac escaping, and the thorax proper only 

 being left.'' — ' Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal,' 

 1842. 



There is nothing to prevent any amateur observer from 

 pursuing his inquiries through every stage of existence in 

 the Hermit Crab. 



