204 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



from the water. During- the day they keep hidden, but 

 in the evening- they leave their holes and go out after 

 food. Their bodies are commonly 3-4 inches in the 

 square. It is puzzling how they dig their deep holes; 

 their claws do not seem constructed for the work. 

 Where they come beneath a garden or other planted 

 land, they do great damage, eating off the roots of the 

 plants. One of their claws, at times the right, again 

 the left, is always larger than the other; and these 

 they keep before them in a threatening and defensive 

 position ; what they seize with them they do not readily 

 let go ; but they do not hesitate to part with their claws 

 if held fast by them. 



The Soldiers (Cancer Diogenes L.) are small slen- 

 der crabs, which live in remains of cockle-shells, and 

 they drag this dwelling of theirs everywhere about with 

 them. When they outgrow their dwelling they look 

 for another larger. On this account they keep near 

 the sea-shore, although they are found living farther 

 off, among holes in the rock and beneath heaps of 

 stones. Another sort of small crabs, quite distinct 

 from these, lives also in cockle-shells, but stays in the 

 water. Of both kinds the hinder-part, or tail, is cov- 

 ered with no hard shell, but is soft and flexible, so that 

 they may adapt themselves the better to the turns of 

 the cockle, getting a grip upon it and drawing it after 

 them. That one of their claws which is the longer lies 

 out before the entrance to their house, ready for de- 

 fence. 



The Fidlers and Land-turtles (Cancer vocans L.) 

 are further varieties of very small crabs, which live in 

 the shore-sand. There are in general many different 



