XVII. On the supposed existence of metamorphoses in the crustacea

Perhaps none of the phenomena of natural history have attracted a greater share of the attention of mankind in all ages than those exhibited by insects in their passage to the perfect state, and to which it is not surprising that the name of metamorphoses should have been applied. If this were the case in the darker days of zoological knowledge, when the true nature of these changes was not understood, it is not strange that the subject should have lost none of its interest when, owing to the admirable researches of Redi and Swammerdam, De Geer and Reaumur, all of the marvellous has been removed, and a series of gradual developments exposed, far exceeding in peculiarity those exhibited in any of the other tribes of animals. It will not perhaps be considered out of place if we here shortly glance at those general principles which regulate these metamorphoses amongst theAnnulosa . “Si nous voulons concevoir,” observes Latreille, ”d’une manière claire et positive le sens qu’il faut attacher au mot demétamorphose , il est necessaire que nous nous formions une idée exacte de celui demue ; car leurs significations paraissent avoir beaucoup d’affinité, et il est essentiel de les déterminer aussi rigoureusement qu’il est possible.”