77 
1907 - 8 .] The Body-Temperature of Fishes, etc. 
captured in lobster traps, the edible crabs and the lobster were obtained 
alive from the lobster fishermen of the locality, the sea-urchins were fished 
up from the sea-bottom with a landing-net at low water, and the starfishes 
were got from a depth of 20 fathoms on the “ long-line ” set to catch 
haddocks and flounders. While still alive, the creatures were transferred 
to a large wicker basket and completely immersed in the sea for a day 
or two before the temperature observations were made. Abundance of 
food was put in along with them. Shore crabs are not pugnacious, and 
do not attack each other when several are confined together; but it is 
otherwise with the edible crab or “partan,” and in these the movable 
pincer or chela of each of the great claws was spiked with a small wooden 
wedge to render them harmless. 
When observations were to be made, a boat was rowed out to the 
basket, which was anchored in the bay, and moored alongside of it. This 
plan was adopted with a view to secure against any alteration in the 
temperature of the water during the period (| to 1 hour) occupied in 
taking the thermometer records, as it was found that the shallow water 
of the beach or of an enclosed pool did not usually remain at a constant 
temperature for such a long interval. In the deep water of the bay there 
was no detectable change from beginning to end. A thick worsted mitten 
and an india-rubber glove were worn on the left hand, which was used to 
seize and hold the crabs, so as to prevent the conduction of heat to the 
body of the animal. The sea-urchins and starfishes were supported on 
a ledge in the basket, and were not handled at all except for a few seconds 
while the thermometer was being introduced. 
In the crab the flexed abdominal portion was raised and a small hole 
made with a penknife through the carapace in the groove on the thoracic 
sterna, and the bulb of the thermometer was introduced through this 
opening into the cephalothorax. The crab was held by the two great 
pincer claws under water while the thermometer was in position, the 
hand not being in contact with its body at all. The single lobster which 
I examined was a small specimen, and had lost both the great claws before 
I received it. A small opening was made on the ventral aspect in the 
articular membrane between the second and third abdominal segments, and 
the thermometer was pushed through obliquely forwards into the powerful 
muscles of this region. In the sea-urchin the thermometer was introduced 
through the mouth in some cases, the projecting teeth having been pushed 
aside, and through the anal orifice at the opposite pole in other cases. 
Similarly, in the starfish it was passed through the aperture on the 
ventral aspect of the central disc, and thence into the substance of one 
