CH. XXI.] VARIOUS SPECIES OF CRABS. 287 



The Land-crab {Gecarcinus ruricola) is an inhabi- 

 tant of the Bahama Islands, as well as most tropical 

 countries; it feeds upon vegetables, and is remark- 

 able for the curious economy which it exhibits in its 

 annual voyages from its retreats in mountainous 

 districts to the seacoast. The majority of crabs are 

 inhabitants of the sea or the seacoasts, but the land- 

 crabs, as their name indicates, reside upon land, even 

 in elevated districts, where it is said that they live 

 in a kind of orderly society. Once a year, how- 

 ever, during the months of April and May, they 

 undertake a march of the most laborious description 

 to the coast, to the number of several millions* 

 Sallying forth from the stumps of hollow trees, 

 from the clefts of rocks, and from the holes which 

 they have dug for themselves in the ground, the 

 whole surface of the earth is so completely covered 

 with this band of adventurers, that there is no net- 

 ting down the foot without treading upon them. In 

 their passage to the ocean they preserve, in a re- 

 markable degree, a direct line, a shorter course 

 could scarcely be found, turning neither to the right 

 nor left, be the obstacles in their path ever so great ; 

 indeed, it is even said, that if they meet a house in 

 their way they will attempt to scale the walls rather 

 than turn from the line of route. The procession 

 sets forth with all the regularity of a well-disciplined 

 army, under the direction of an experienced general. 

 They are divided into three battalions, the first con- 

 sisting of the strongest and boldest males, which, 

 like pioneers, march forward to clear the way, and 

 face the greatest dangers ; then follows the main 

 body of the procession, consisting of females, which 

 do not quit their retreats until the rain has set in, in 

 columns of fifty paces broad and three miles deep. 

 A few days afterward the remainder of the pro- 

 cession appears, consisting of straggling males and 

 females, neither so robust nor so vigorous as the 

 former. When, after a fatiguing march, and es- 



