46 
HISTORY OF BRITISH CRUSTACEA. 
having passed from their state of Zoea to “ that secondary 
condition known as Megalojoa.” He thus describes some 
specimens which he caught and placed in a vase. Their 
abdomen projected like a long slender tail behind, and was 
armed at the end with fine radiating pencils of hairs. “ The 
eyes, which were very large, projected on each side, being 
set on thick footstalks ; and as they were of a brilliant green 
hue, and very lustrous, they formed a conspicuous feature of 
the little animals. They manifested a sensibility to light 
correspondent to this development. At night they congre- 
gated on that side of their glass prison which was next the 
candle; and when I transferred the light to the opposite 
side, they immediately scuttled across and crowded up as 
close to it as possible. They would follow the candle round 
and round the glass, shifting as it shifted, and stopping when 
it stopped. They were very nimble in swimming, generally 
keeping near the surface.”* They died off very fast, but 
not before one or two underwent their change, which Mr. 
Gosse was able to recognize as that of Portunus. 
Portunus purer, Linn. sp. Velvet Crab . (Plate III. fig. 
3.) — Front armed at least with ten teeth or spines ; carapace 
densely covered with hairs ; front legs of moderate size, and 
* Aquarium, p. 157. 
