exuviation

We have been living in the midst of a social exuviation, and the old coercive shell having been cast off, a new coercive shell is in course of development; for in our day, as in past days, there co-exist the readiness to coerce and the readiness to submit to coercion.

It undergoes three moults, each time altering its figure, until at the third exuviation it has become enclosed in a bivalve shell, and has acquired a second eye.

It had, probably, undergone only one exuviation since its metamorphosis, for the larva is nearly as long, namely, 25/1000ths of an inch.

Having dissected the six specimens with the utmost care, and having scrupulously examined the ovaria in other Cirripedes during their early stages of development, even before the exuviation of the larval locomotive organs, and in specimens of smaller size than the male Ibla, I am prepared to assert that there are no ovaria, and that these little creatures are exclusively males.

I may remark that one, or more commonly two or three branched filaments stand nearly in the centre of each circular line of exuviation or splitting.