218 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



One of this species, which was put into a shallow 

 vessel with sea- water, had its body and legs covered 

 with sea-weed of various kinds. Shortly after it 

 had settled down it began to pluck off the plants 

 and by next day the larger pieces were well cleared 

 away. On the following morning I was surprised to 

 find that all the plants which had been taken off on 

 the previous night were again replaced, together with 

 others which the crab had picked up in the vessel. 

 Some were attached by the ends, as if growing ; 

 others were laid across and attached by the middle ; 

 and all were so firmly fixed that the animal could 

 be gently drawn by them round the vessel. By 

 whatever means the attachment had been effected, 

 we cannot suppose that the plants took root and 

 held fast on the animal in so short a time — some 

 adhering by one part and others by another. We 

 may therefore venture to say that the sea-weeds 

 are placed in position by the crab, and held there by 

 some adhesive matter secreted by the animal itself. 



Stenorhynchus longirostris, Fabr. 



[Read 27th December, 1887.] 



Stenorhynchus rostratus, Lin., was not uncommon off 

 the shores of Cumbrae about twenty years ago, but 

 is now in a great measure replaced by Stenorhynchus 

 lo7igivostris, Fabr., which is generally found on a 

 stony or gravelly bottom. I cannot say that I ever 

 found it in pure mud. 



The great length and thinness of the limbs of this 

 animal readily suggest the idea of feeble action, 

 members so thin and flexible seeming ill-adapted 

 either for encounter or flight ; and when there is 

 taken into account the crop of alga? generally 

 attached to the legs and other parts of the body, it 

 is difficult to consider the crab to be much more 

 than a fixture. On watching its movements for a 

 short time, however, my ideas of its powers were 

 somewhat modified by finding it to be very buoyant 

 and well able to float with great ease. It seems to 



