122 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



probably at first the exclusive right of the individual digging 

 them, but the proprietorship is not observed, at least on an occa- 

 sion for alarm, when the crabs tumble promiscuously into the 

 nearest one, often with struggle for precedence ; and it is particu- 

 larl}'^ amusing to see some large individual, caught away from his 

 own habitation, stick in a hole too small for him, or try several 

 such in desperate hurry. I noticed that the animals went in 

 either side first with equal facility. Without alluding to what 

 may have been the specific characters used to separate the above 

 species, I should judge that specimens incontestably the same 

 varied indefinitely in coloration. The great claw of the larger 

 individuals is sufficiently strong to bring blood from the finger. 

 Although pretty active, they are much less swift-footed than the 

 next species, and may be easily captured by hand. The onl}"^ use 

 to which I knew of their being put, was to bait hooks for fish, for 

 which purpose they are well adapted, being greedily taken by 

 sheepshead, sea-trout, and other smaller kinds. 



Ocypode arenaria, Say. 



While the preceding kind is confined to the marsh and adjoin- 

 ing soil, the sand-crabs are equally restricted to the beach and the 

 clean dry sand of the dunes, there forming one of the most con- 

 spicuous features of the localit3^ Although they do not occur in 

 such immense numbers as the fiddlers, they are numerous enough 

 to act as efficient scavengers in their own territory; and, particu- 

 lai'ly during the summer months, hundreds ma}'^ be seen in a few 

 minutes' walk. At times they gather in troops of considerable 

 size, though never very closel}^ aggregated, and march together 

 to near the water's edge. Each one throws up a, little embank- 

 ment of sand or digs a slight pit for himself, and they all lie in 

 wait for their prey. When disturbed at such times they scamper 

 en masse into the surf, and such is their custom, also, whenever 

 caught too far away from home. But they are apparently not at 

 ease under water, and seek the first chance to creep safely out. 

 Whenever a shark or other large fish is rotting on the beach, they 

 fairly invest the carcass, encamping closely about it, and not 

 raising the siege as long as anything edible is left. I think their 

 holes, the mounds around which dot the neighboring sand, usually 

 or often connect with the meat under ground ; because in digging- 

 out remains of cetaceans, the crabs are often turned out with the 



[July 18, 



