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 
NATURAL HISTORY OF AMERICAN EOBSTER. 329 
THE FIRST EARVA. 
[PL 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. 
