LAND ( RAB. 113 



Cancer Ruricola, or Land Crab. 



The Crabs of this species, inhabit the 

 Bahama islands, as well as most lands be- 

 tween the Tropics. These animals live not 

 only in a kind of orderly society, in the re- 

 treats in the mountains ; but regularly once 

 a year, march down to the sea-side in a body 

 of some millions at a time. As they mul- 

 tiply in great numbers, they choose the 

 month of April or May, to begin their ex- 

 pedition ; and then sally out by thousands 

 from the stumps of hollow trees, from the cliffs 

 of rocks, and from the holes which they dig 

 for themselves under the surface of the earth. 

 At that time the whole ground is covered 

 with this band of adventurers ; there is no 

 settinsj down one''s foot, without treadinjx 

 upon them. The sea is their place of desti- 

 nation, and to that they direct their march 

 with right-lined precision. No geometrician 

 could send them to their destined station by 

 a shorter course ; they neither turn to the 

 right nor left, whatever obstacles intervene ; 

 l3 



