76 INVERTEBRATE ANIMALS. 



the French Crahes Honteiix, Modest-crabs, from their 

 habit of hiding their heads and smaller limbs behind 

 their broad-crested nippers, chelce. The armour is 

 certainly strong and very complete, and might be of 

 invaluable service to the wearer if a Calappa had nothing 

 to do but to defend itself from the attacks of enemies ; 

 but how a panoply allowing the limbs but little play 

 can be convenient for the general requirements of crab- 

 life has yet to be discovered, and perhaps may be so 

 by the aid of an aquarium. 

 Estimated number of species : recent, 18. 



IT Examples of Matiita, Hepatus, Camara, Orithya 

 mamillaris, &c. 



Section B. — Crahs icitk quadrilateral shields = Famille 

 des Catometopes (Milne Edwards). 



Group 179.— Family GRAPSIDiE. This family includes 

 seven genera, the species of which are widely distri- 

 buted through tropical and sub-tropical regions : they 

 frequent coasts and rocks washed by the spray of the 

 ocean, and are very timid creatures, retreating, on the 

 first alarm, with great speed to their lurking places. 

 Nautilograpsus alone is oceanic in its habits, and is 

 found on floating timber or sea- weeds, often far from 

 land. Several species of Grapsus were observed by the 

 writer climbing the walls of the Castle at Vera Cruz. 

 They were very active and difficult to catch. 

 Estimated number of species : recent, 60 ; British, 1. 



H Examples of Goniopsis, Sesarma, Trkhopus, 

 Plagiisia, &c. 



