372 A. E. Verrill — Decapod Crustacea of Bermuda. 



According to Prof. W. P. Hay (op. cit., p. 405) the male takes 

 possession of the young female, shortly before she is to moult 

 into the adult condition, and carries her around with him until she 

 is ready to moult, when lie places lier in a safe retreat and stands 

 guard over her during the moulting. As soon as this is accomplished 

 he immediately copulates with her and carries her away, remaining 

 with her for " a day or two " or until her shell hardens. 



That large numbers of males are taken in spring, each carrying a 

 female with him (called " doublers " by the fishermen), is well 

 known. But it is probable that only a part pair in this way, and 

 that both accounts are correct. 



Professor Hay thinks the females neither pair nor produce eggs 

 but once, dying soon afterwards. This belief rests on very insuffi- 

 cient evidence. Most of the larger species of crabs are found carry- 

 ing eggs at various stages of growth, and females of this crab, of 

 at least two different sizes, are often found with eggs. In dissecting 

 large numbers, during many years of instruction of students in my 

 zoological laboratory, we have found large numbers of large size, 

 and apparentl}^ more than three years old, containing fully developed 

 ova, in early spring, indicating that the females breed at least twice, 

 like the males. Perhaps these older females are the ones before 

 whom the males perform their courtship dances. This matter needs 

 much more careful investigation, under very favorable conditions, 

 before it can be considered as settled. 



This species and probably other allied crabs, can readih?^ be put 

 into a limp and helpless condition, a])parently like the hypnotic state 

 of man, by gently and continuously rubbing the carapace, over the 

 region of the heart, in a particular way. I have often made the 

 most pugnacious and active adult males perfectly docile in this way 

 in a few minutes, and if the treatment be carried further, they soon 

 become limp and helpless, as if dead, remaining where placed for 

 some time. They soon spontaneously recover their activity, if left 

 to themselves. I have often done this, as long ago as 1870. 



This performance is genei'ally a great surprise even to the fisher- 

 men who have handled crabs all their lives, for it does not seem to 

 be generally known. 



Our largest specimen (No. 1712, var, acutidens S ) is from Nassau, 

 N. P. Length of carapace, 185™™ ; total breadth, 204'"™; less spines, 

 152™™ ; between orbits, 25™™ ; length of larger (left) chela, 116™™ ; 

 its height, 32™™. The lateral teeth are very acute. 



This species appears to be very rare, if not accidental, at Ber- 

 muda. It has been recorded by Miss Rathbun as in the Mus. Comp. 



