CRABS. 231 



Being naturally fitted for shallow water and shelving 

 shores^ the Carcimis is one of the most familiar objects of 

 all our coasts. Not a tide-pool but contains some specimen, 

 old or young, lurking between the crannies of rocks, or 

 half hiding under the pendent weeds. High up on the 

 shore too, on sand or shingle, even in the caves at the foot 

 of cliffs left dry by the receding tide, there may the Shore 

 Crab be found. At every part of the coast it is a most 

 favourite amusement among children to stand on quays and 

 jetties, letting down bunches of offal into the water, and 

 drawing them up with these Crabs holding tightly to them 

 with their tenacious pincers. 



Their flesh being of a delicate and sweet flavour, these 

 Crabs are much eaten by inhabitants of the coast, and many 

 are sent up to metropolitan markets. It is more however 

 as a delicacy than, for food that they are sought for, their 

 substance being far from soHd, and each shell containing 

 very little flesh. 



The carapace or great shell of this species is very pretty, 

 especially in the earlier stages, when the colours and mark- 

 ings are more brilliant, and set off by transparency. The 

 general colour is darkish- or greyish-green above, with a 

 little reddish tinting beneath and about the legs. They 



