CRABS. 239 



two years and eight months under examination. It was an 

 interesting specimen^ extremely tame and tranquil, always 

 coming to the side of the vessel as I approached, and hold- 

 ing up its little claws as if supplicating food.''' 



PORCELLANA PLATYCHELES. 



The Broad-claw is a curious little fellow, with the whole 

 body very much flattened, fitting him to hide in narrow 

 horizontal crevices. His pincers are very broad, flat, and 

 hairy, and capable of inflicting a very severe bite. Yaluable 

 however as are his pincers, he parts with them easily to 

 effect his escape when seized, knowing that, as 



■ " He wlio fights and runs away 

 May live to fight another day," 



so 



He who throws his limbs away 

 May have them new another day. 



When placed in an Aquarium, the Broad-claw is seen at 

 first to move briskly, by using its tail or abdomen as a flap, 

 although habitually it is kept doubled up under the body, 

 as in other Crabs. It soon finds a hole or cranny to hide 

 in, and generally keeps out of sight. A little specimen I 

 saw at Lloyd's, lived pretty constantly under a common 



