In recent articles Vogt (1975, 1977, 1980) and Land (1976, 1978) have put forward a theory of reflection optics as a method by which a superposition image is formed on the retina in macruran decapods, notably the crayfish. A feature of the reflecting superposition eyes investigated so far by Vogt & Land is that the corneal facets have negligible focusing properties, such focusing as exists being achieved by total internal reflection in the proximal part of the crystalline cone. The present work shows for the first time that the cornea of an Australian crayfish, Cherax destructor, which otherwise has all the required anatomical features of such a reflecting superposition eye (Fig. 1 A, B, C), possesses corneal facet lenses each of which focuses light from a distant object (forming a real inverted image) to a position behind the cornea approximately corresponding to...

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