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A HISTORY OF BRITISH CRUSTACEA, 



COMPRISING THE M ALACOSTRAC A. 



BY THOMAS BELL, F.R.S., F.L.S., V.P.Z.S. 



PROFESSOR OF ZOOLOGY, IN KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON. 



In announcing the publication of a History of the Crustaceous Animals 

 of the British Islands, it can scarcely be necessary to insist upon the 

 interest which, in almost every point of view, attaches to them, or to 

 seek far for ample grounds for the undertaking. It is not merely for 

 the purpose of filling up a hiatus in the British Fauna, or as a medium 

 for the publication of accurate figures and descriptions of the species, 

 that the work is now projected. The form and structure, the physio- 

 logy and habits, of these animals, are all as replete with interest as 

 those of almost any group of the animal kingdom ; and there are cer- 

 tainly few respecting which so little is popularly known. Amongst 

 other points in their history, the long-disputed question of their meta- 

 morphosis will be thoroughly investigated, and some novel information 

 on the phenomenon of the shedding of their crustaceous integument, 

 will also be given ; for which purpose the Author has had most liberally 

 and kindly placed in his hands the whole of the observations and experi- 

 ments of Mr. Couch, of Polperro, whose attention ' has for several years 

 been directed to the elucidation of this curious subject. He has also 

 received the promise of contributions from many distinguished natural- 

 ists, whose names will give a value to the work which it could not other- 

 wise have possessed. The figures will be drawn by Mr. Westwood. 



The first Part will be published as speedily as possible, consistently 

 with the certainty of the regular monthly appearance of the succeeding 

 Parts. The price will be 2*. 6d. each, and the work completed in one vol. 



A few copies will be printed on larger paper, to correspond with the 

 Quadrupeds and Reptiles, by the same Author, and the other Zoological 

 Works of the same Publisher. 



JOHN VAN VOORST, 1, PATERNOSTER ROW. 



