THE DANCE OF THE LADY CRAB. 



483 



last, from slieer exhaustion, lie sinks down to tlie sand in liis usual 

 attitude. 



But now tlie female, who has all this time remained tucked 

 away in the sand, comes forth and begins to move about the aqua- 

 rium ; soon she comes near to the male crab, when instantly he 

 rises to his feet and begins to dance. Again and again the per- 



^^5^^2^- 



Dance of the Lady Crab (drawn from life by T. H. M.). 



formance is repeated, and each time the approach of the female is 

 the signal for the male to rear high upon his hind-feet, and to reel 

 about the aquarium as if intoxicated. 



At times, when the female approached as he danced, he was 

 seen to make attempts to inclose her in his great chelate arms, not 



