78 Miscellaneous » 



live in the same localities as the preceding, and in the same manner. 

 They are taken in the same traps and in great quantities, hut their 

 flesh has a strong taste, and is only eaten by the negroes. 



The Gecarcini, frequently called violet crabs, painted crabs, and 

 " tourlouroiiXy" are of numerous species. The Gecarcimis lateralis 

 is the most common, and to it the name of ^^ toiirlonrou''^ properly 

 belongs. It lives in dry woods on the sea-coast, and hides under 

 stones and trunks of trees or in holes ; often, as is also the case with 

 Cardisoma carnifex and Vca una, even under the flooring of houses. 

 It is only esteemed as food at the period of spawning, because then 

 the ovaries are dilated with eggs ; and it is only at this period that 

 they are taken, which is so much the more readily done, because then 

 great numbers of them are about in troops. 



It is said that the Gecarcini as well as the Cardisoma carnifex have 

 occasionally poisonous properties ; but the flesh of these animals being 

 heavy and the epicures eating sometimes great quantities of them, it 

 is probable that it is generally indigestion that is produced, particu- 

 larly as these derangements bear a considerable resemblance to some 

 cases of poisoning. It has been pretended that the crabs acquire 

 this venomous property after eating the fruit of the manchineel-tree ; 

 but in answer to this it is stated that the fruit of the manchineel is 

 not ripe at the period when the crabs are eaten, and it must be ob- 

 served that this fruit does not fall to the ground until it has arrived 

 at the extreme of ripeness. 



The Gelasimi inhabit the most muddy places they can find, where 

 a soft dirt, composed of decomposed leaves, allows them to dig their 

 retreats easily. When these animals are frightened at anything, they 

 retreat towards their burrows, with their large claw raised : they re- 

 quire a great quantity of moisture ; for in the event of a long drought, 

 the mud of the swamps becoming dried up, they nearly all die, and 

 so great is their number in some places, that when this is the case the 

 air becomes contaminated by the emanations from their bodies. Their 

 numbers, in fact, are so prodigious, that in some districts one may see 

 spaces of two or three leagues perforated with the burrows of these 

 animals. 



The Sesarma Pisonii lives on the roots of the mangroves. When 

 it perceives the approach of danger it ascends even to the topmost 

 branches of these trees, or else descends along the roots until it is 

 covered by the water. 



The Grapsus pictus inhabits rocks on the sea-shore, where it is 

 continually engaged in watching for prey ; for this purpose it keeps 

 five or six lines from the surface of the sea, and seizes upon anything 

 that swims past. Its feet are so disposed and covered with asperities, 

 that it runs with great swiftness over the most inclined rocks, and can 

 only be taken by surprise : when every other place of retreat is cut ofi\, 

 it throws itself into the water. This animal changes its skin on the 

 rocks which it inhabits ; at that time it is much less active and can 

 be caught more readily. The places inhabited by the Grapsi are 

 covered with their brilliant coats. — JBibl, Univ. de Geneve, 1851, 

 p. 337. 



