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OF JAMAICA. 423 



CANCER 16. Ruricolus, fcutd fubrotundd violaced ) rr U t>\ 1 iv,t 



, „ *, -'■ r ... „ C The slack or Moun- 



vel Jiava, articulis ultimis atque> . ^ , 



» 1, • »- .« \. tain-v_>raD. 



penult wm acuteatis. 



S 



■ 



Thefe creatures are very numerous in fome parts of 'Jamaica^ as well as in th 

 neighbouring iflands, and on the coaflof the main continent ; they are generally of a 

 dark purple colour ; but this often varies, and you frequently find them lpotted, or en- 

 tirely of another hue. They live chiefly on dry land, and at aconfiderablediftancefrom 

 the lea ; which, however, they viiit once a year, to wafh off their fpawn, and after- 

 wards return to the woods and higher lands, where they continue for the remaining 

 part of the feafon ; nor do the young ones ever fail to follow them, as foon as they are 

 able to crawl. The old crabs generally regain their habitations in the mountains, 

 which are feldom within lefs than a mile, and not often above three from the (horc, 

 by the latter end of June, and then provide themfelves with convenient burrows, 

 in which they pafs the greateft part of the day, going out only at night to feed. In 

 December and January they begin to be in fpawn, and are then very fat and delicate, 

 but continue to ptow richer until the month of May. which is the feafon for them 



warn off their eggs. They begin to move down in February, and are very much 



abroad in March and April, which feems to be the time for the impregnation of 

 their eggs, being then frequently found fixed together ; but the males about this 

 time bejjn to loie both the flavour and richneis of their juices. The eggs are 

 difcharged from the body through two fmall round holes fituated at the fides, and 

 about the middle of the under (hell; thefe are only large enough to admit one at a 

 time, and, as they pafs, they are entangled in the branched capillaments, with 

 which the under fid*, of the apron is copioufly fupplied, to which they flick by the 



means of their proper g 



the furf, where they wafli 



em all off; and then they begin to return back again to the mountains. It 



markable, that the bag or ftomach of this cie.tture changes its juices with the 





ftate of the body ; and, while poor, is full of a black, bitter, difagreeable fluid, 

 which diminishes as it fattens, and, at length, acquires a delicate rich flavour. 

 About the month of July or Augufi the crabs fatten again, and prepare for mould- 

 ering, filling up their burrows with dry grafs, leaves, and abundance of other 

 materials: when the proper period comes, each retires to his hole, fhuts up th 



paffage, and remains quite unactive, until he gets rid of his old (hell, and is fully 



provided with a new one. How long they continue in this (late is uncertain, but 

 the fliell is firft obferved to burft both at the back and fides, to give a paflage to 

 the body, and it extracts its limbs from'all the other parts gradually afterward. At 

 this time the fifh is in the richeft ftate, and covered only by a tender membranous 

 fkin variegated with multitude of reddim veins,- but this hardens gradually after, 

 and becomes foon a perfect: (hell like the former: it is, however, remarkable, that 

 during this change there are fome ftony (a) concretions always formed in the bag, 

 which wafte and difiblve gradually as the creature forms and perfects its new cruft. 

 A wonderful mechanifm ! 



This crab runs very faft, and always endeavours to get into fome hole or crevife 

 on the approach of danger ; nor does it wholly depend on its art and fwiftnefs, 

 for while it retreats it keeps both its claws expanded, ready to catch the offender, 

 if he fhould come within its reach; and, if it fucceeds on thefe occafions, it com- 

 monly throws off* the claw, which continues to fqueeze with incredible force for 

 near a minute after; while he, regardlefs of the lots, endeavours to make his 

 efcape, and to gain a more fecure or a more lonely covert ; contented to renew 

 his limb with his coat at the enfuing change ; nor would it grudge to lofe many of 



the others to preferve the trunk entire, tho' each comes off with more labo 

 reluctance, as their numbers Iefien 



'.. 





(a) Thefe are feldom under two, or more than four 



When 



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