THE PROCESS OF EXUVIATION. 121 



Before doing this I had the animal closely exa- 

 mined, to see if any signs of the approaching moult 

 could be detected, but none were visible, except that 

 the glassy bags, if I may so call them, which for some 

 weeks had been gradually thrown out from the 

 stumps of the three mutilated limbs, appeared finer 

 in texture than usual. Indeed, so transparent had 

 they become, that I could distinctly see the contour 

 of the new limb about to be reproduced, folded up 

 within each capsule. 



A few minutes after the crab had been placed in 

 the tumbler, I gave a peep to see how he was getting 

 on. To my intense surprise, I observed that his shell 

 had just opened near the tail ! My first feeling was 

 one of sorrow, thinking that in handling the speci- 

 men I had been too rough, and had perhaps injured 

 it. This apprehension was soon changed to delight, 

 as I became by degrees aware that exuviation had 

 actually commenced. 



The operation did not extend beyond five minutes 

 (although the time appeared much longer to me), and 

 was carried on by gentle, and at first almost imper- 

 ceptible degrees. The shell, or carapace, was slowly 

 raised over the back, and gave one the idea of the 

 rear view of a lawyer's white wig when tilted over 

 his brow, thus exposing the natural black hair 

 on the occiput below; for, as the body of the animal 

 came forth, it was 'very dark in colour, while the old 

 case assumed a whitish hue. I need hardly say, the 



