tion. I have frequently during the summer and autumn 

 months had females loaded with spawn, which is carried 

 in two large masses, attached to the under surface of the 

 thorax by the false feet before mentioned. I have also had 

 two or three individuals, covered with what I at first took 

 to be a parasite, but which I now believe to be the crea- 

 ture's larval form, having found the cases of recently hatched 

 spawn, and what I take to be the young on the same spe- 

 cimen. If this be the case, the parent animal carries the 

 eggs about till they are hatched, as is the case in many of 

 the higher Crustacea. The larva, if such they be, are 

 curious little creatures, somewhat resembling a cheese-mite 

 with the addition of a pair of very large pincer claws on 

 each side of the head. They are very active ; and cling 

 most tenaciously to their parent, by means of their claws 

 and four bristle feet. I have not yet been able to watch 

 their development, and thus verify my suspicions respecting 

 their true character, as hitherto I have found them disap- 

 pear after a few days' confinement. The mature pycnogons 

 are very tenacious of life, as might be expected from their 

 very low vitality, and they will live a long time in a vessel 

 of seawater. Some of those I have in the room have 

 been kept in a tumbler for nearly two months— and for 

 purposes of observation are better than freshly caught 

 specimens, as they have got rid of much of the coating of 

 diatoms and other extraneous matter which usually covers 

 them. They seem to feed upon decaying auimal and vege- 

 table matters, which they find amongst the weeds on which 

 they live. I have sometimes noticed a green colour per- 

 vading the stomachs as if from the presence of partialfy 

 digested alg« and conferva. In conclusion, I would again 

 recommend these humble creatures to the notice of any 

 amateur microscopist who is in search of instructive objects 

 upon which to employ the powers of his instrument. The 

 great transparency of their shelly covering renders their 

 whole internal organization very apparent, and there are 

 many points in their economy which are well deserriag of 

 further elucidation. 



