The Researches of Bouvier and Bordage on Mutations in Crustacea of the Family Atyidæ

ABSTRACT

Some six years ago Professor E. L. Bouvier (‘04,’05)1 called attention to the remarkable dimorphism of certain tropical river-prawns of the family Atyidæ, which he compared with the phenomenon of mutation described by de Vries in the vegetable kingdom. He pointed out that the case was especially noteworthy, not only because of the marked discontinuity and constant occurrence of the variations, but also because they affected characters regarded as distinctive of genera; and he drew the conclusion that these genera had originated by a process of mutation. M. E. Bordage has recently published (’08,’09A,’09B) the results of some observations and experiments on the living animals which seem to support Bouvier’s views, and to indicate, at all events, a promising field for further investigations. At the suggestion of Sir Ray Lankester the following account has been prepared in the hope that it may induce some naturalists, who have the opportunity of studying the animals under natural conditions, to give attention to the matter.