200 General Notes. [February, 
body ; one which the latter author distinguishes as cyanein, The 
French observer finds that the tissues give up the color after 
death, and that the blue color of the aqueous solution disappears 
when heat of from 40° to 45° is applied, and gives place to a well 
marked rosy hue, which again disappears on cooling. Speci 
scopic examination reveals the presence of three absorption- 
bands, one in the red, one in the yellow, and one in the green 
region; the second of these corresponds almost exactly in post- 
tion to the sodium-band. If the aqueous solution is treated with 
ammonia the blue color is immediately precipitated under the 
form of small blue flakes which may be collected on the filter 
paper and analyzed. The author hopes that further investiga- 
tions will reveal the cause of the differences which obtain a 
his results and those of Kleinenberg.—/ourn. Roy. Microscopie 
Society, Aug, 1883, 
AN OYSTER on a CRAB.—A fisherman has sent me a ne 
crab with an oyster somewhat larger than itself ensconsed on 
right side of its carapace. The crab is Cancer irroratus Jay, 
is a young female which has but just attained puberty. ous 
shield is two inches across, and one-and-three-fourths inches f 
front to back. The caudal flap is distended with eggs. a 
oyster is two-and-half inches in length, and two inches “| aa 
is firmly attached to the right extremity of the carapace. te 
wonder how the prospective little mother could me ee 
charge so far, and at the same time carry such a lobsid el 
cumbrance ; the crab is hardly more than one-fourth fully gr° nS 
The oyster, it is pretty certain, is about four months 0 
Lockwood. 
l : F. 
MovuLTING oF LımuLus.—I was much interested me 
: i , ‘on of 
ters of Limulus. But it caused surprise to see a disci 
points which I thought were settled in my article on the 1” 
Foot Crab, in Am. Naturauist. Vol. Iv, 1871, P 2577 att 
sexes. As to the exuviation of large crabs, I gave instance he 
measurement of increase. Where these crabs are comme 
shedding of the adult is not a rare sight. ught uP 
As to finding undoubted exuviz of the adult males bro The 
by the sea, it is uncommon to find such of either ee 
young have very light shells, and their exuvia are easil where: 
shoreward by the wash, and often make vast wind-rowS- prougtt 
as the adult exuvie are heavy, and are seldom foun ‘that 
up. I think, too, that the young crabs prefer shoaler wê” - 
