424 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



Harbor Bay at Ocean City, Corson's Inlet, Sea Isle City, 

 Stone Harbor, Avalon, Peermont, Anglesea, Cape May, Green- 

 Creek, Fishing Creek and Dias Creek along Delaware Bay. 

 It is a good swimmer and progresses rapidly by means 

 of its modified or paddle-like hind legs. Often wdien hauling a 

 small seine in the surf great numbers of lady crabs, or as they 

 are usually called locally "sand crabs," are taken with small 

 fishes such as Fiindnlus majalis, Trachinotus carolinus, Men- 

 ticirrhns saxatilis, Menidia mcnidia notata, Syngnathus fuscus, 

 etc. It generally buries in the sands, with only the eyes and an- 

 tennae exposed, ever on the watch for food and enemies. If 

 disturbed it instantly moves dowm and backwards deeper into 

 the sand, and in this w^ay is also able to avoid the breakers or 

 storms. Its food consists of small animals, though it is useful as 

 a scavenger, devouring dead animals, often fishes. I have found 

 them feeding on the latter, these often Anchovia viitchilH, Tan- 

 toga onitis, Pomolobus mcdiocris, Prionotits cvolans strigatits, 

 Fundulus iiiajaliSj etc., as they were left by the tides. The crabs 

 were sometimes in great numbers, all gleaning bits of the car- 

 casses, and often when disturbed they all moved ofif or into the 

 loose sand, only to reappear shortly if not molested and continue 

 their feast. Though of no importance as an article of food itself, 

 the lady crab is often used as bait by the fisherman. It is also 

 eaten by many of our valued food-fish, such as Taufoga onitis, 

 Cynoscion regalis, Scomber scoiuhriis, MenticirrJius sa.vatilis, 

 Paralichthys dentatus and Centropristis striatiis. Most all these, 

 besides others, have been taken on it when used as bait by the 

 angler. I have also found remains in the dog fish, Miisfclus 

 canis, and doubtless many other predatory animals devour 

 quantities. 



On July 1 2th, 1903, great numbers were seined in the surf 

 at Stone Harbor, in Cape May County, associated with medusa;, 

 Fundulus viajalis, Mcnidia mcnidia notata, Miigil curcnia, Syn- 

 gnathus fuscus, Trachinotus carolinus, Midlus auratus and Mcn- 

 ticirrhus saxatilis. 



On August 30th. 1905, they were equally common at Ocean 

 City, in Cape May County, and were seined with Anchovia 



