THE CAMPOSCIA. 561 



and watery, and can thus be drawn through the comparatively small openings through 

 which the tendons pass from one joint to another. The sharp and knife-like edges of 

 the plates cut deeply through the muscle, which, however, is little injured, on account 

 of its soft consistency, and heals with great rapidity as soon as the animal recovers its 

 strength, and is gifted with a new shell. In the common edible crab, the flesh is quite 

 unfit for consumption during this process, as any one can attest who has attempted to 

 dress and eat a " watery " crab. Yet, in some of the exotic crustaceans, these condi- 

 tions are exactly reversed, and the crabs are never so fit for the table as while they are 

 soft and shell-less, after the old suit of armor has been thrown off, and before the new 

 integument has received its hardening. It may here be observed, that the basis of 

 the crustaceous armor is composed of chitine, the remarkable substance of which the 

 elytra and other portions of the insect skeleton are composed. 



Compose/a retusa. 



The name of Leptopodia signifies slender feet, and is appropriately given to the long, 

 slight-limbed creature which is represented in the illustration. When full grown, this 

 species will mostly attain twice the dimensions of the figure. The Stenorhynchus is 

 shown of its natural size. 



THE two figures on the illustration, however dissimilar they appear to be, represent 

 the same species ; the upper figure showing the Camposcia as it appears when its ex- 

 terior is free from extraneous substances, and the lower figure being a faithful image of 

 the same individual as it appears while burdened with sponges and other marine 

 growths. 



As will be seen by reference to the engraving, the hairy limbs, as well as the whole 

 of the body, are encrusted so thickly that their true shape is quite undistinguishable, 

 and the animal seems to masquerade under a domino of living disguises. Even the 

 36 



