222 CRUSTACEANS. 



CHAPTER IV. 



MISCELLANEOUS CRUSTACEANS. PLATE LXII. 



THE leading features in the history of the principal member of the 

 Crustacean race, the Crab and the Lobster, have been sufficiently illus- 

 trated by the preceding discussion. 



Nevertheless, many subordinate genera remain, whose nature requires 

 elucidation. Some of these are most obscure and ill understood, and 

 present a series of curious and interesting facts for explanation. There- 

 fore, descending but little into minutiae, I would propose to engross their 

 names in a miscellaneous chapter, from which any particular subject may 

 be selected for special commentary. 



I am sensible that the whole will require acurate revision, correc- 

 tion, and amendment, wherein I must claim the indulgence of the 

 reader. 



Let me remark, besides, that, in the course of protracted observations, 

 numerous subjects new or unintelligible, fall under notice, that many 

 are mutilated or imperfect, and many indistinctly seen, concerning the 

 nature and form of which only conjectures can be offered, it is very likely 

 that any account of them compiled from defective materials, will scarcely 

 convey conviction along with it ; but combining the substance obtained 

 by several observers, it is possible that, if not arriving at the truth, we 

 shall be in less hazard of deviating far from it. 



We shall not attempt to follow any regular order here. 



