H. Sandwith."
On the Moulting of the common Lobster (Homarus vulgaris) and Shore Crab (Carcinus mænas). By S. James A. Salter, M.B., F.L.S., F.G.S.
[Read April 7th, 1859.]
I am induced to bring this subject before the Linnean Society, on account of the singularly perfect specimen of the thrown-off slough of a Lobster which I have now an opportunity of exhibiting, and because the process by which it was shed was witnessed and carefully watched by two competent observers—by my friend Mr. Robert Cooke, of Scarborough, a Fellow of this Society, and by the intelligent wife of the Curator of the Scarborough Museum, in an aquarium in which institution the occurrence took place.
The methods by which certain of the Decapod Crustaceans cast their old shells in the process of renewal and growth have already been made the subject of observation and record.
Réaumur, as early as 1712, and again in 1718, saw and described the sloughing of the common freshwater Crayfish (Astacus fluviatilis).
It was witnessed in the common edible Crab (Cancer Pagurus) by Mr. Couch, in 1833.
Subsequently the moulting-process was observed by Mr. Gosse, in the Spinous Spider-crab (Maia Squinado).
Beyond these three recorded examples, I believe that the actual operation of moulting in Decapods has never been seen, though the sloughs of our common Crustacea, and the animals themselves but recently emerged from their old shells, are familiar to all marine zoologists.