Studies on Apus, Limulus and Scorpio / by E. Ray Lankester.

Date:
1881
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Studies on Apus, Limulus and Scorpio / by E. Ray Lankester. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    PART I. A. Introduction and Bibliography. The prevailing opinion among zoologists at the present day, with regard to the affinities of the King Crab, is that it must be regarded as one of the Crustacea. Even when this view is not fully accepted the King Crab is placed in a special position of isolation and its relationship with Crus- tacea strongly insisted upon, whilst more remote affinity with the Arachnida is grudgingly admitted. My friend Edouard Van Beneden, of Liege, is the only zoologist who has definitely taken a divergent line, and has frankly endorsed the instinctive perception of Straus Durk- heim in declaring that Limulus is no Crustacean, but simply and unreservedly an Arachnid. Ed. Van Beneden bases his opinion upon embryological data. I have elsewhere ex- ])ressed my full concurrence in that opinion, but the grounds upon wdiich iny conclusion rests are not solely embryological —they have reference to the structure of the adult Limulus and Scorpion. In the following pages I hope to show that Limulus is best understood as an aquatic scorpion, and the Scorpion and its allies as terrestrial modifications of the King Crab. My views on this subject were formed some eight years ago, and I have to acknowledge the kindness of Mr. Car- rington, F.L.S., of the Royal Westminster Aquarium, by which 1 have been enabled to dissect and make histological study of perfectly fresh specimens of Limulus sent to me in the living state. It is not desirable at the outset to follow the history of the discussion relative to the zoological position of Limulus. Those who desire to become acquainted with the most im- portant contributions to the subject should consult the memoirs of Anton Dohrn and A. S. Packard, who have given very ample references to the literature of the subject. I shall here give in alphabetical order a list of the chief works referred to in the following pages, the number at- tached to an author's name when cited, having reference to the number in the present list. After I have put forward the facts and inferences with reference to the structure and affinities of Limulus which appear to me to be well-estab- lished, I shall briefly review the various opinions which have been advanced by recent writers of authority.