CRABS. 29 



or as a rule very large ; still liis ca^Dtors, when they do 

 secure hira of even ordinary dimensions, treat him to a 

 pot of boiling water, and let hnn go cheap. This 

 description of crustacean is known as the Harbour or 

 Shore Crab (Carsinus maenas), and is represented in 

 the preceding cut. Pie is a w^eed of almost every soil, 

 and a jDcrfect jjest to those who fish in estuaries 

 and tidal rivers, nibbling off the bait in a manner 

 past all endurance, and Avhen the watchful angler, 

 anticipating the presence of a plump and silvery fish 

 at the end of the line, raises his fishing-rod aloft, 

 there hangs instead, a green, mud-colourecl little 

 imp, clawing the air like an enraged spider, making 

 himself in fact in every way obnoxious and dis- 

 agreeable. 



Then there are other members of the same amiable 

 race, w^ith whom he w^ho fishes the sea with nets will 

 not be long before he makes acquaintance. These are 

 the swimming Crabs, of which there are numerous 

 species. These differ materially from the kinds we 

 have described, in habits, appearance, and structure. 

 By the use of their powerful oar-like legs they are 

 enabled to ]3ropel themselves through the water wdth 

 great rapidity and precision, and by darting among the 

 meshes of the fishing-nets they become so hopelessly 

 entangled, that a " Fiddler Crab " (as it is sometimes 

 called fi'om the rapidity with wdiich it works its elbows) 



