280 THE SEA SHORE 



the first containing lobsters, shrimps, &c. ; the third the typical 

 crabs, such as the shore crab and the edible crab ; while in the 

 second are placed those species of crabs which have been regarded 

 as intermediate in character. Thus, in the Anomura we find 

 decapods in which the abdomen, though not so well developed as 

 in the Macrura, is either permanently extended or is capable of 

 being extended and used for swimming as occasion requires. The 

 hindmost legs, also, are not well developed and adapted for walk- 

 ing, but are employed only as organs of prehension ; and, as is 

 the case with the first sub-order, there are often two pairs of well- 

 developed antennae. 



In this sub-order of ' queer tails ' we find the Soldier or Hermit 

 Crabs, and those flat-bodied crabs that live almost exclusively on 

 the surface of stones, and are hence known as Stone Crabs ; but as 

 opinion now seems inclined against the formation of a special sub- 

 order for these creatures, we shall briefly deal with them as a first 

 section of the Brachyura. 



The Stone Crabs are extremely interesting creatures, and the 

 observation of their habits, both in and out of the water, is particu- 

 larly entertaining and instructive. One species the Broad-Clawed 

 Porcelain Crab (Porcellana platycTieles), shown on Plate VI. is 

 very abundant on all our rocky coasts, and may be found in 

 immense numbers near low- water mark. 



Turn over some of the large encrusted stones that strew the 

 beach among the rocks, and you are almost sure to find numbers 

 of these little crabs clinging to the freshly exposed surface. A few 

 of them may remain perfectly still, and exhibit no sign of surprise 

 on their untimely exposure to the light ; and these, on account of 

 their small size, the closeness with which they apply their flattened 

 bodies to the encrusted stone, and more than all to the protective 

 colouring of their dingy bodies, which so closely resembles that of 

 the surface to which they cling, may well be overlooked by the in- 

 experienced collector. But the majority of them will immediately 

 scamper away in their own peculiar fashion towards the edge of the 

 stone, and rapidly make their way to what is now the under side. 

 As they progress with a hasty, sliding movement they never for 

 one moment loosen their firm hold on the rough surface of the 

 stone, but keep both body and limbs in close contact with it, 

 clinging hard by means of their pointed claws as well as by the 

 numerous hairs and bristles with which their appendages are 

 liberally fringed. 



