eriod
in a dormant state.

SECTION VII.--CRUSTACEA, ECHINODERMATA, &c.

Crabs of numerous species are common, and one species, occasionally
caught on both the east and west coasts, attains to a gigantic size. A
craw-fish is abundant on the coasts, and is much prized by epicures, and
another inhabits the rivers which run into the sea on the north coast.
Many other crustaceans, still undescribed or but little known, are to be
found in all favorable situations.

There is little in the character of the _echinodermata_ to call for
special notice. Species of many genera of star-fish and sea urchins are
most abundant. _Acalephae_ and _polypi_ are equally numerous, and a most
extensive and little-explored field lies open in this colony to the
naturalist in these most interesting branches of zoology. Our
_infusoria_, too, are still undescribed, though numerous; but they call
for few remarks in this place.

In closing this chapter upon the zoology of Tasmania it must not be
forgotten by the reader that its productions are still, in a great many
cases, comparatively unknown; the notices of those described are
scattered throughout an immense number of works, and in this island no
museum or public scientific library yet exists, of such a character as
to afford any aid to the compiler. It is not, however, to be expected
that a general history of Tasmania should contain a minute history of
all its varied and most interesting natural productions. It has been
deemed sufficient, in the present slight sketch, to give in general
terms merely those leading features which were likely to prove
attractive to the general reader; leaving it to the student who may
desire further information to refer to the works which have been noticed
under the different heads.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 268: _History of British Fossil Mammals and Birds._]

[Footnote 269: It may be as well, also, to observe here that the learned
Professor's article on the _Marsupialia_, in the same work, leaves
little to be desired by the student who desires fuller information on
the comparative anatomy of the marsupial animals.]

[Footnote 270: Mr. Gould, in his introduction, says 181 species, and his
table shows 172; but we think he has erred in placing some birds under
the head of Van Diemen's Land, which in the body of his book do not
appear ever to have been found in it.]

[Footnote 271: Vol. I., introduction, p. 170.]

[Footnote 272: For a very full and excellen