THE CRAYFISH AND ITS ALLIES 



109 



The legs of this family are short and broad, and in some 

 species the posterior pair is especially broad - - an adapta- 

 tion for swimming. These crabs 

 may be divided into two groups 

 the burrowing crabs and swim- 

 ming crabs. To the burrowing 

 crabs belongs the genus Cancer 

 (Fig. 102), which includes the 

 edible crab of Europe, especially 

 prized in England, together with 

 several American species; while 

 our common edible, soft-shelled 

 or blue crab, Callinectes hastatus 

 (Fig. 103), and the beautiful "lady crab" (Fig. 104) 

 belong to the swimming group. Representatives of other 

 families of crabs are, however, eaten in various localities 

 and by various peoples. For example, our little Pinnotheres 



FK;. 102. - - Panopeus sayi, 

 allied to Cancer. The mud- 

 crab. One-half nat. size. 

 Photo, by W.H.C.P. 



FIG. 103. Callinectes hastatus, blue crab. Reduced to one-third. Photo. 



by W. H. C. P. 



