PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 369 



start on their great migration across the bays for the north shores, 

 where they enter the creeks and estuaries and go upon the shoals, 

 where they remain until grown, burying themselves in the mud and 

 sand in winter. 



They shed twice each summer for three summers, when they reach 

 their full size and shed no more. The young crabs grow one-third 

 larger after each shedding in the second and third summer. Tlie 

 newly shed crab is a great delicacy. The shedding is done mostly at 

 night, the smaller ones coming very near the shore for that purpose. 

 I have observed the process many times with the aid of a lantern, and 

 have gatliered many a mess of them, frequently waiting for some fellow 

 to finish shedding. About ten minutes is occupied in the process, 

 though I have never held a watch on one. 



During the third summer the females are impregnated oy old males, 

 after which the red markings of the former appear, the apron becomes 

 dark, and its form changes from triangular to broadly ovate. After 

 impregnation and shedding for the last time, the fenmles start for the 

 Gulf and meet the males no more, one meeting being sufticient for life. 

 They lay their first eggs in their fourth summer. The males remain 

 among the growing crabs, and are the ones taken for the table. 



The average life of the male crab is as follows: Take him in his third 

 summer, his shell is 5 inches, and he has some green and blue tints, and 

 occupies the place among crabs that a 16-year-old boy does among men. 

 lie selects a safe place for his last shedding (he sheds twice during the 

 summer), generally about September, near an old log, stone, or some- 

 thing of the kind. Failing to find anything, he will dig a place in the 

 sand, 12 or more inches in diameter. After shedding and going through 

 his calisthenic performance to get himself into shape, his shell is 7 

 inches wide, and the woman's form on his back becomes prominent, 

 though it is always discernible on the young ones. It takes him the 

 balance of the season to get back his strength and harden his flesh. 

 The colors, green, brown, blue and wiiite, are clear and bright, and the 

 crab is very pretty. He comes back to the shallows in the spring of 

 his fourth year, a little sobered in color, but in his best condition. He 

 has two objects in life, eating and propagation. He eats anything he 

 can get in the way of dead fish or flesh. He will eat the young of his 

 own species, if he can catch them. I have seen him make a rush among 

 fiddlers feeding near the water, catch one, and take it back to the water 

 to devour it. 



In courting he is ludicrous to the onlooker. The breeding females 

 are those in their third summer. Meeting or ai^proaching one of these, 

 he will elevate himself on the tips of his legs, getting as high from the 

 ground as possible, extend his claws to their widest extent, supporting 

 himself with his paddles, and in this position he will strut slowly and 

 pompously in front of her. Should another male appear, a battle 

 ensues. The sexual act lasts from 3 to 6 hours. The female will accept 

 Proc. N. M. U.-) 24 



