PREPARATORY STATES. 351 



a pair of strong nippers ; the tail is greatly diminished 

 in its relative size and proportions, and is sometimes 

 partially bent under the body, but more commonly 

 it is extended. This form is as natatory as the first, 

 and the animals in the state described are frequently 

 found congregating around floating sea-weed, the 

 buoys and strings of the crab-pot marks, and other 

 floating substances both near the shore and in deep 

 water. 



The final change confers upon the animal the 

 general form of the perfect crab (PL VII. fig. 4), and 

 its natatory habits, in conformity with the changed 

 condition of its limbs, are entirely laid aside. 



