Xo. 473] 



EGG-LAYING OF CRAYFISH 



351 



entire body onto an even keel and then a violent struggling of the 

 legs as if to turn the body over into the normal prone position. 

 Eggs were still seen in the mouths of the oviducts, two on each 

 side. Tn this struggle to regain the ventral position the left side 



right going under and tlie left uppermost the animal irot onto iis 

 ventral side. It then stood thus, on its legs with vcMitral sido 

 down, for two minutes witli only sliglit movements of two or three 

 legs. Immediately after this brief rest the "turning" movements 

 began. This would no doubt have gone on for several hours 

 but it was checked by interference after six minutes during which 

 time there were fairly regular alternations of ])ose. this animal 

 lying down first u]>on its left side and next upon its right. 



It is in these turning movements that always follow the extru- 

 sion of eggs, that the eggs become fastened to the pleopod.^, so 

 that when the female a few hours after the eggs have come out, 

 for the first time straightens out the abdomen and the glaire is 

 seen onlv a. shreds hanging from the edges of the abdominal 

 teroa ;,n.l fi-oiii the tnil-l'au. the cuu- do not fall int.. the water 

 but henceforth han:, .n^pended from the ,,leo,HMU, till lian he<l. 



While faMcne.l to the pleopo<U ih,> de\elo,)in- e-^ an- proi.vted 

 by the female an.l aUo aerate<l U^ ^pe< ial moNem.'nt> of die jileo- 



stagnant or poor in <.\\-en. In all [)ro!.al>ility eg-s not attached 

 to the pleopods ^^ouhl nexer (h'M^iop. in nature, and this attach- 

 other Crustacea. 



Just how the fast.Mn-n.. of the e.-. takes ohiee is 1,\ no m<';ms 



