472 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



pink in colour and finally a bright orange. This change 

 in colour is due to the development of food-yolk. The 

 eggs first become yolked in the spring of the second 

 year. 



Second Year. December — Eggs extruded {first spawning). 



When the spawning takes place the crabs are in the 

 deeper offshore waters. In the spring of the third year 

 the inshore migration commences. 



Condition of ovary. Immediately before 

 spawning the eggs are large and of a bright orange 

 colour, due to the food-yolk. After the extrusion of the 

 eggs the ovary is shrunken and of a pale colour. The 

 majority of the eggs are small and without food-yolk. 

 There may be, however, a few ripe eggs present which 

 have failed to escape to the exterior. As the spring 

 advances the eggs gradually become more mature, and 

 present a pinkish colour. 



Third Year. July — First hatching takes place. 



In the autumn of the third year the offshore 

 migration again takes place. 



Condition of ovary. At the time of the 

 first hatching the ovary is generally of a red colour, and 

 the eggs are about half ripe. 



Third Year. December— Eggs extruded (second spawning).* 



During spawning time the crab is in the offshore 

 waters. In the spring of the fourth year the inshore 

 migration commences. 



Condition of ovary. Very similar to the 

 appearance at the time of the first extrusion. 



Fourth Year. July — Second hatching takes place. 



The crab is now in the inshore waters. 



* Williamson gives instances in which the second spawning did 

 not take place for about fifteen months after the first hatching. It is 

 difficult to say whether this is of regular occurrence. 



