116 CANCER EURICOLA, 



animal, when possessed of its retreats in the 

 mountains, is impregnable; for, only sub- 

 sisting on vegetables, it seldom ventures out, 

 and its habitation being in the most inac- 

 cessible places, it remains for a great part of 

 the season, in perfect security. It is only 

 when impelled by the desire of bringing forth 

 its young, and when compelled to descend 

 into the flat country, that it is taken. At 

 that time, the natives wait for its descent in 

 eager expectation, and destroy thousands ; 

 but, disregarding their bodies, they only seek 

 for that small spawn which lies on each side 

 of the stomach, within the shell, of about the 

 thickness of a man^s thumb. They are much 

 more valuable upon their return after they 

 have cast their shell ; for being covered with 

 a skin resembling soft parchment, almost 

 every part except the stomach may be eaten. 

 They are taken in the holes, by feeling for 

 them with an instrument ; they are sought 

 after by night, when on their journey, by 

 flambeaux. The instant the animal per- 

 ceives itself attacked, it throws itself on its 

 back, and with its claws pinches most terribly 

 whatever it happens to fasten on. But the 



