CALLING CRABS. 89 



stalks jump bolt upright side by side, like a pair of little 

 lighthouses, and survey the field of battle in a fashion utterly 

 ludicrous. Moreover, as if he were not ridiculous enough even 

 thus, he is (as Mr. Wood well puts it) like a small man gifted 

 with one arm of Hercules, and another of Tom Thumb. One 

 of his claw arms, generally th-e left, has dwindled to a mere 

 nothing, and is not seen ; while along the whole front of his 

 shell lies folded one mighty right arm, on which he trusts ; 

 and with that arm, when danger appears, he beckons the enemy 

 to come on, with such wild defiance, that he has gained there- 

 from the name of Gelasimus Yocans " The Calling Laugh- 

 able:" and it were well if all scientific names were as well 

 fitted. He is, as might be guessed, a shrewd fighter, and uses 

 the true old " Bristol guard " in boxing, holding his long arm 

 across his body, and fencing and biting therewith swiftly 

 and sharply enough. Moreover, he is a respectable animal, 

 and has a wife, and takes care of her ; and to see him in his 

 glory, it is said, he should be watched sitting in the mouth of 

 his burrow, his spouse packed safe behind him inside, while 

 he beckons and brandishes, proclaiming to all passers-by the 

 treasure which he protects, while he defies them to touch it. 



Such is the " Calling- Crab," of whom I must say, that if 

 he was not tnade on purpose to be laughed at, then I should 

 be induced to suspect that nothing was made for any purpose 

 whatsoever. 



