NATURAL, HISTORY OF AMERICAN LOBSTER. 
329 
THE FIRST LARVA. 
[PI- xxviii and text fig. 34.] 
When the lobster has successfully escaped from the egg capsule and shaken itself 
free from its cuticle, it emerges as a free-swimming animal and eventually rises to the 
surface, where it remains rising and sinking, but probably never far removed from the 
actual surface until its pelagic life is over. 
Fig. 34. — First larva, or first swimming stage of the lobster in profile. For drawing colored to life, see plate xxvra; 
for natural swimming hold page sidewise with head of animal down, and compare figure 40 of text. Length 
about 8 mm., or a little less than % inch. 
The animal is but little over a third of an inch long. The body is segmented as in the 
adult form, the most striking characteristics being the enormous eyes, the conspicuous 
rostral spine, which projects like a sharp spear in front, the triangular telson, and the 
biramous swimming legs, which, from their resemblance to the permanent swimming 
