258 



THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 



of a long articulated tail the restless Chimera continually turns 

 head over heels. Claws are wanting, and while the old crab is 

 of course a perfect decapod, the young has only four bifid legs, 

 armed at the extremity with four long bristles, that are con- 



Metamorphosis of Carcmus mcenas. 



A. First stage. B. Second stage. C Third stage, In which it begins to assume the adult form. 



D. Perfect form. 



tmually pushing food towards the ciliated mouth. Who could 

 imagine that a creature like this should ever change into a crab, 

 to which it has not the least resemblance? But time does 

 wonders. After the first change of skin the body assumes 

 something like its permanent shape, the eyes become stalkedj 

 the claws are developed, and the legs resemble those of the 

 crab, but the tail is still long, and the swimming habit has not 

 yet been laid aside. At the next stage, while the little creature 

 is still about the eighth of an inch in diameter, the crab form 

 is at length completed, the abdomen folding in under the 

 carapace. Wo wonder that these larvae were long supposed to be 

 distinct types, and described under the 

 names of Zoea and Megalops, until 

 Mr. T. J. Thompson first discovered 

 their real nature. 



The life history of the Palinuri or 

 spiny lobsters is equally curious. They 

 frequently weigh ten or twelve pounds 

 each, and are distinguished by the very large size of their 

 lateral antennae and by their feet being unarmed with pincers. 

 Surely nothing can be more dissimilar than the glass crabs or 



Phyllosoma. 



