No. 2.] THE OVARIAN EGG OE LIMULUS. 119 



observed by me on the twenty-eighth day of October and the 

 first of November, it may be supposed that the moulting period 

 is not fixed to definite seasons, but that it may take place 

 at any time, according to the physiological condition of the 

 animal. 



Although the soft-shelled females observed by me were of a 

 size not inferior to the largest hard-shelled specimens found to 

 possess an ovary filled with mature eggs, yet the eggs in these 

 soft-shelled ones were scarcely visible to the naked eye. The 

 larger eggs, however, when exposed to favorable light, showed 

 a decided reddish-pink coloration, indicating the second stage 

 of yolk formation. Numerous specimens, apparently fully 

 grown, appeared to have moulted at an earlier period. These 

 were distinguished from the hard-shelled ones, having mature 

 eggs, by the translucency of the carapace, and their consequent 

 brown appearance in contrast to the black appearance of the 

 hard-shelled ones. The carapace in the former was further 

 distinguished by many distinct internal markings not visible in 

 the hard shells; and, unlike the latter, the eggs had not yet 

 been discharged into the ovarian tubes, but many of them, 

 apparently, had reached follicular maturity. In no case did I 

 find one recently moulted containing mature eggs. All females 

 that were observed ovipositing at Woods Holl had hard shells. 



Habitat. — Limuli, ranging from eight inches to the adult 

 forms, were found in abundance on the last of October and the 

 first of November, off New Haven, in Long Island Sound, in 

 water ranging from five to fifteen fathoms. It was the general 

 opinion among the oyster fishermen, who are engaged in dredg- 

 ing oysters during the greater part of the winter months, that 

 Limulus goes into deeper water later in the season. But very 

 little reliance can be placed on their observations; for, although 

 they had been engaged in dredging starfish previous to Novem- 

 ber I, yet they seemed to be ignorant of the presence of 

 Limulus at that time, till they were asked to take notice 

 of them. 



The earlier stages of Limulus, ranging from one-fourth inch 

 to eight inches, were abundant at North Falmouth, Mass., in 

 the month of August. The place where they are found is a 



