THE HORSE FOOT CRAB. 263 
by the same individual more than once in the same season. 
I have heard this asserted with confidence by some fishermen. 
But as they could advance no proof no attention was given 
it until the following fact occurred. Let me first state that 
it is a eustom prevailing wherever the Horse Foot Crab 
abounds, to catch it to feed poultry, under the belief that it 
makes them lay, as it surely does fatten both them and hogs, 
but imparts a shocking flavor to the flesh of both. The fe- 
male is always preferred on account of its eggs, of which it 
has not less than half a pint, crowded within the cephalic 
shield. These are obtained by inserting the point of a knife 
into the forward, and under edge of the shield, and running 
the knife round through the thin rim, already described, 
when the entire lower part can be torn from the upper part 
of the shield, thus exposing the eggs, which are like mustard 
seed, but of an ashy green hue. Now a female that I knew 
to have spawned in May was in this manner opened in July, 
and was then to my surprise full of eggs, well formed, and 
with every appearance of maturity. 
The Horse Foot Crab spawns at or near the new and full 
moon, in the months of May, June and July. By this, 
however, is only meant that they embrace the time of the 
extra high tides, which depend so greatly on the lunar influ- 
ence. But mark the nice calcuiation herein displayed. 
They come up at a great high tide, advancing on the bottom, 
until they reach a suitable spot near to, but within the ex- 
treme line of this great tide. Three definite advantages are 
in this way secured. First, the spawning is performed under 
water, or without undue exposure ; second, the line of the 
average high tide is thus selected ; and third, a short ex- 
posure to the daily low tides is thus secured, by which the 
proper exposure of the spawning spot to the development- 
accelerating heat of the direct rays of the sun is obtained. 
A visit of the adult Limulus to the shore line, except at 
the spawning season, is a very rare event. At this season | 
they come up in great numbers in pairs ; and it may be said 
