664< COCOANUT-EATTXG IIAEIT OP THE BIRGUS, 



tlie shell. On the following day I found the shell — a j'oung and 

 somewhat thin one — broken irregularl}^ across the middle, with 

 the soft white kernel cleanly scooped out and eaten. It was 

 afterwards found necessary to break the nuts for its daily food, 

 as I was anxious to keep it alive until our arrival at Sj^dney. 



As the crab disliked observation I was unable to gain much 

 knowledge of its habits by watching. During the day time it 

 was sluggish, did not eat, and kept in one Cjuarter as far from 

 the light as it could get ; at night it moved about very actively, 

 and fed vigorously on the cocoanuts. Some salt-water was kept 

 in the coop, as the Birgus is said to descend to the sea-coast at 

 night to moisten its gills. 



The powers of smell (?) of this crab did not appear to be very 

 keen. Strong liquor ammoniac of the British Pharmacopeia, 

 when placed about a couple of inches under its mouth, caused a 

 little movement of the foot-jaws or maxillte, but the crab showed 

 no other signs of discomfort, and remained in the same posture. 

 Chloroform, when similarly placed, produced a like effect on the 

 foot-jaws, and by the gradual sinking down of one of the second 

 pair of claws which was raised up in the air, it aj)peared to ex- 

 perience in some degree its physiological effect. 



The habit of this crab when surprised away from its burrow, 

 is not to turn round and run away, but to retreat in an orderly 

 manner with its front to the foe. Having reached some root or 

 trunk of a tree which protects in the rear its less perfectly- 

 armoured abdomen, it makes a resolute stand, waves one of the 

 second pair of long claws in the air and courageously awaits the 

 attack. I observed the attitude of defence more carefully after I 

 had bi^ought the crab on board. The two large claws are held 

 up close together to defend the mouth and eyes, but with the 

 pincers pointing downward — the j^osture reminding me of the 

 guard for the head and face in sword exercise. One of the 

 long second pair of claws is planted firmly on the ground to give 

 the crab additional support, whilst the other claw is raised in 



