562 



THE DOCLEA. 



joints can barely be ascertained, and, but for the continual movements to which they 

 are subjected, it is very probable that the sponges would increase with such rapidity, 

 that in a short time the limbs would be rendered immovable. These growths are so 

 constant and rapid that the creature can only free itself at the time when it changes 

 its skin ; and it is likely that the crab may feel as comparatively light and disburdened 

 after throwing off all this encumbrance of heavy voluminous substances, as does a 

 thick-woolled sheep after the shears have removed the heavy fleece, and enabled the 

 lightened animal to skip about the field astonished at its own activity and the sudden 

 coolness shed over its body. 



The reader will observe, on reference to the upper figure, that the Camposcia pos- 

 sesses all the characteristics already mentioned as appropriate to the family in which 

 it is classed, and that the snout if we may be allowed to employ the word is elongated 



Doclea calcltrapa. 



and very deeply cleft, so as to form a forked protuberance. The body is rounded at 

 the base, and small in proportion to the limbs, though the apparent disproportion is not 

 so marked as in the Leptopodia. This species is a native of the Philippines. The 

 genus to which this creature belongs does not seem to be very large, only three or 

 perhaps four species being known. 



STILL keeping to the same family, we come to a curious genus containing some very 

 remarkable creatures, among which the species represented in the illustration is one of 

 the most notable. 



In this genus the beak is comparatively small, but still contains the cleft tip, although 

 the notch is not nearly so deep as in other members of this family. The claws are of 

 considerable size and power, and the legs are long and furnished with an array of stiff 

 bristles. The chief peculiarity, however, which most strikes the sight, not to say the 



