THE CRUSTACEA OF NEW JERSEY. 461 



Ghost Crab without a hand net or other contrivance, when on 

 the run, provided it has a fair start is often rather difficult. 

 So extremely vigilant is this species, that even when sitting 

 quietly on the sand one is sure to set them scampering in all 

 directions into their burrows should the slightest movement be 

 made. As their coloration almost harmonizes with the sands 

 in which they live, they would often be difficult to detect, if 

 they remained perfectly quiet. Though the young ones do 

 sometimes sink down, or in the sand in such fashion, the adults 

 usually trust to their speed to escape. 



The Ghost Crab is carnivorous in its habits of feeding, and 

 quite a scavenger. I have frequently seen them feeding on 

 fish ofifal, or where the viscera, heads and scales have been 

 thrown out by the fishermen. They also feed on dead alewives, 

 mossbunkers, hickory shad, or in fact most any dead fish washed 

 up on the beach or to be found carried in among the debris. 

 According to S. I. Smith they were found to feed largely on 

 beach fleas {Talitrus), the crab remaining quiet and then sud- 

 denly springing upon its prey, similar to a cat capturing a 

 mouse. 



Say's example, dried, and labeled New Jersey, I have ex- 

 amined, besides another old example from Absecon. 



South of New Jersey the Ghost Crab is also abundant along 

 the shores of Delaware, where I found it at Lewes. Dewey and 

 Rehoboth Beaches to Indian River Inlet. It is also very 

 abundant on down to Ocean City in Maryland and I have met 

 vv^ith it at Cedar Island. Chinoteague and Assateague Islands, and 

 near Cape Charles in Virginia. Below it is also common about 

 Ocean View near Norfolk and Virginia Beach. 



