38 CRAB, !SHH,IMP, AND LOBSTER LORi!. 



artful manner. Nothing annoys liim more than to have 

 prying men or investigating animals, passing their re- 

 marks, or taking note of the mouth of his shaft ; so he 

 digs away in his deep level, until he has accumulated a 

 goodly quantity of sand and earth, when up he comes 

 stealthily to the opening of his mine, pops out his head, 

 peers sharj^ly and jealously round, and, if the coast 

 appears clear, round he flourishes his claw with all the 

 force and precision of an accomplished round-hand 

 bowler at cricket, and away he casts the proceeds of his 

 excavations, but at the same time taking care that no 

 two clawfuls go in the same direction, lest the newly- 

 raised sand should betray the secret he is so careful to 

 conceal. 



The sands of the reefs and islands of the Eastern seas 

 afford a home for the King Crab (Limulus), who, with 

 his odd-looking, shield-shaped body, and long blade- 

 like spike or spear, will be familiar to many of our 

 readers. Some individuals of this species grow to a 

 very large size, and are sought for by the Malays, both 

 on account of the immense number of eggs they some- 

 times contain, and the natural weapon with which 

 nature has armed them. These lance-shaped spears are 

 often made use of as points for arrows and other warlike 

 implements, mainly because the wounds inflicted with 

 them are more painful and dangerous than those 

 received from instruments of iron or steel. The 



