50 A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SEAS 



and in time these cuttings may flourish to such an extent 

 that the crab presents the appearance of a magically 

 animated bush of seaweed. If such a crab bedecked from 

 head to foot in green weeds be suddenly placed amongst 

 red weeds a remarkable transformation takes place. The 

 creature seems to realise at once that it is no longer " in 

 the picture " and sets about undressing itself and sub- 

 stituting red weeds for its discarded green attire. Such 

 a complete transformation may be effected in a few hours. 



Some of the species have a " pipe clay " surface to the 

 shell, on which sponges, sea squirts, etc., find a natural 

 anchorage ; whilst others slowly and painfully pile pebbles 

 upon their warty backs, a task involving infinite labour, 

 especially if the stones are smooth and slippery. 



All the larger species of the group are edible and caught 

 in a variety of ways. Our native Maia squinado, having 

 a limb span of 2 ft., habitually buries itself in shingle and 

 in the Channel Islands fisher-folk walk the gravel reaches 

 on their bare feet, the spines of the crab's back notifying 

 a " catch " to the unprotected soles of the fishermen. 



The giant of the race hails from Japan, where an adult 

 male may span 11 ft. across the outspread arms. This 

 monster frequents deep water, but periodically enters 

 shallow bays, where it is taken in specially constructed 

 traps. The creature necessitates cautious handling and 

 fishermen commonly bind each limb to the spokes of a 

 carrier like a huge cart-wheel. Killed and cooked the crab 

 is dismembered and sold at so much per joint. 



The Furrowed Crabs (Xantho) are curiously wrinkled 

 and shrunken, which give them a spurious appearance 

 of great age. Closely related is the gigantic Pseudocarthinus 



