TAXIDERMY. 93 



forms. As to those with long spines, and other 

 asperities, like spondyli, pectenes, &c., we put over 

 them a thin layer of gum arable with a brush, to 

 revive the colours. 



Crustacea. 



The animals of this family are perhaps the most 

 singularly formed of all created beings. They 

 present astonishing phenomena in their manners 

 and habits. 



Crabs and other Crustacea are found in almost 

 every sea; some of them quit this element to plun- 

 der the woods ; we have even seen the land-crab, 

 gecarcinus, a league from the shore, and often on 

 very high mountains ; but when they wish to de- 

 posit their eggs they go to the sea. 



When we have procured a pagurus, or hermit- 

 crab, we take it from the shell, make an incision 

 in the tail, which is always very flabby, we empty 

 it by this opening, fill it with cotton, and then put 

 the animal into its shell, and wrap it in paper. We 

 entirely take away the flesh of lobsters, crabs, &c. of 

 a certain size. We cut the branchiae, as well as all 

 the intestines ; we put the preservative wherever we 

 have taken away the flesh, cover the soap with a little 

 cotton, and replace the shell of the back. The pincers 

 which terminate the anterior claws are often very 

 large, and consequently contain much flesh ; in this 



