HOW EXUVIATION IS ACCOMPLISHED. 347 



which might well be considered impossible. To say 

 that the creature casts its skin, as a life-guardsman 

 would lay aside his cuirass and draw off his jack- 

 boots, is easy enough; but how this is to be done 

 with such a cuirass, such legs, and such boots, is by 

 no means of facile explanation. And yet, even under 

 these difficulties, 



" Eternal Providence, exceeding thought, 

 Where none appears, can make herself a way." 



The mode adopted by Nature appears to be as 

 follows : 



At certain seasons of the year all the limbs are full 

 of flesh ; but when the time approaches for changing 

 the shell, the muscles, contrary to the opinion of the 

 ancients'*, become flabby, watery, and, in the eatable 

 crab, unfit for food. A soft integument is formed, 



* " Cum vires norant se disrumpentes amictus, 

 Affectant epulas et pascua Iseta requirunt. 

 Ut saturo faciles disrumpant corpore crustas 

 Labitur e toto cum ruptum corpore tegmen, 

 Hi primum in fulva nunquam Isetantur arena, 

 Nee pastum capiunt, nee quicquam mente revolvunt, 

 Expectant mortem, vitales ore calores 

 Non spirant, tenui formidant omnia pelle ; 

 Sunt timidi donee firmentur tegmina membris. 

 Ac veluti medicus languentem corpore curat, 

 Atque velut primis epulas gustare diebus 

 Attenuans calidas morboso in corpore vires 

 Paulatim praebens epulas, quaa languida membra 

 Instaurant, donee tanto sint membra dolore 

 Purgata et vires restent in corpore firmae ; 

 Sic crustis nuper natis sua membra Paguri 

 Curant, lethiferum cupientes pellere fatum." 



Oppian a Lippio cers. 



