CO 
from 31st August, 189G, to 15th August, 1897, or 8 times from 
lltli October, 1890, to 2nd October, 1897. The larger and older 
Specimen C cast 6 times between 8tli April, 1897, and 7th June, 
1898. The still older Specimen B cast 5 times from 25th October, 
189G, to 7th October, 1897. We know, as a matter of fact, that 
finally casting takes place ouly once a year, or once in 2 or 3 years 
at all events in the case of the older females, until a limit of- growth 
is reached — a limit which is without doubt not the same for every 
individual. 
The absolute gain at each ecdysis is, as the Chart indicates, a 
gradually increasing one, and the loss in weight is also greater and 
greater each time. But the rate of increase appears to suffer 
a reduction, more or less gradually, to about When equal 
periods are considered, it is seen that the rate of growth gradually 
diminishes. 
A year’s gain in size in the case of Specimen A from 
14th October to 2nd October was 24 mms., or 6 times its breadth. 
Specimen B gained 30 mms. from 25tli October to 7th October, not 
twice its breadth. We cannot compare Specimen C for the same 
period, hut from May 30th to June 7th, it gained 284- mms., 
just twice its breadth. Thus, although the absolute increase say 
between one and two years is greater than that during the first 
year, the rate of growth is actually diminished. We have to keep 
in mind the shifting stage of growth in judging the progress made. 
It is a law of growth (and the crab is no exception to it), that 
from or about the beginning of development growth proceeds at a 
gradually diminishing rate." 
The variation which may be observed in Table I. with regard 
to the intervals between the ecdyses and to the progress made at 
such periods, may be inferred to be due, apart from individual 
variation, to season reacting upon animals of different age, and, 
therefore, possessing different rates of growth. 
The construction which I have put upon the measurements of 
Mr. Waddington’s specimens is apparent in Chart VIII. I have 
made no attempt, here, however, to reduce the facts to a curve. 
But from the Chart and the knowledge which the measurements 
afford with regard to the progress made at each ecdysis, 1 have 
deduced the figures in Table IV. 
We are fortunately not altogether without some facts from 
Cullercoats. 
* Vide “The Voti riniiriun," 1901, p. 1514. 
