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able to Expe&ation 5 Symptoms of greater Pain en- 
fued, and the Leg was caft off with greater Violence. 
It is really amazing and inconceivable, by what 
Power or Contrivance in itfelf, fo wonderful an 
Operation can be performed by the Crab, as volun- 
tarily to crack and break fo hard a Shell, and its 
Mufcles, and [then caft off its Legs. The fmall Dia- 
meter of this Joint, the Difpofition of the Fibres, and 
a very fmall circular Fo(fa y may contribute greatly to 
accelerate the Work ; but yet the main Spring of 
A&ion (for the prefent) feems beyond the Reach of 
human Comprehenfion. The whole Performance is 
fo curious, and fo Angular a Fad in the Hiftory of 
Nature, that it may well deferve a nicer Confideration, 
by thofe that have greater Abilities, and more Leifure, 
for fuch Inquiries. 
When the Leg is dropp’d off, a Mucus or Jelly is 
difcharged on the remaining Part of the Joint next 
the Body, which, as a natural Styptic, inftantly flops 
the Bleeding, and gradually hardens and grows cal- 
lous, and forms into a Leg in Miniature, which, by 
degrees, (hoots forth, and attains to its natural Size, 
to fupply the Place of that which was loft. 
An Experiment was next tried, to fee of what great 
Service the Mucus or Jelly was to the Crab. When 
its Legs were all caft off, the Ends of two or three of 
the Stumps were pierced with a pointed Iron, fo as 
to break off the Jelly that flopped them 5 upon which 
Signs of more intenfe Pain were exhibited, a very large 
Flux of Blood enfued, and the Creature foon died in 
great Agonies, as was manifeft by a Tremor of thofe 
Parts about the Mouth, and a Frothing like that which 
attends epileptic Fits. 
K 
It 
