42 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [336] 
green colors, and many of them have the elytra more or less marked with 
white. Mr. 8S. I. Smith found the larva of our largest species (C. gene- 
rosa) at Fire Island, living in holes in the sand below high-water mark, 
associated with the species of Talorchestia. 
Beneath the decaying sea-weeds on the sandy shores immense num- 
bers of the lively little crustacean, Orchestia agilis, (p. 314, Plate IV, 
fig. 14,) may always be found. Two other relatetl species, of larger size 
and paler colors, but having the same habit of leaping, though not in 
such a high degree, occur among the weeds, or burrowing in the sand, 
or beneath drift-wood, &c., a little below high-water mark. In fact the 
sand is sometimes completely filled with their holes, of various sizes. 
Both these species are stout in form, and become about an inch long - 
when mature. One of them, Talorchestia longicornis, can be easily dis- 
tinguished by its very long antenne ; the other, 7. megalophthalma, by its 
shorter antenne and very largeeyes. Both these species are pale gray- 
ish, and imitate the color of the sand very perfectly. When driven 
from their burrows by unusuallyjhigh tides or storms they are capable 
of swimming actively in the water. They make dainty morsels for fishes 
and many shore birds, as well as for certain crabs, especially Ocypoda 
arenaria. 
On sandy beaches near high-water mark, especially where the sand is 
rather compact and somewhat sheltered, one of the “ fiddler-crabs,” 
Gelasimus pugilator, is frequently found in great numbers, either run- 
ning actively about over the sand, or peering cautiously from their holes, 
which are often thickly scattered over considerable areas. These holes 
are mostly from half an inch to an inch in diameter, and a foot or more 
in depth, the upper part nearly perpendicular, becoming horizontal be- 
low, with a chamber at the end. Mr. Smith, by lying perfectly still for 
some time on the sand, succeeded in witnessing their mode of dig- 
ging. In doing this they drag up pellets of moist sand, which they 
carry under the three anterior ambulatory legs that are on the rear side, 
climbitig out of their burrows by means of the legs of the side in front, 
aided by the posterior leg of the other side. After arriving at the 
mouth of their burrows and taking a cautious survey of the landscape, 
they run quickly to the distanceoften of four or five feet from the bur- 
row before dropping their load, using the same legs as before and carry- 
ing the dirt in the same manner. They then take another careful sur- 
vey of the surroundings, run nimbly back to the hole, and after again 
turning their pedunculated eyes in every direction, suddenly disappear, 
soon to reappear with another load. They work in this way both in the 
night and in the brightest sunshine, whenever the tide is out and the 
weather is suitable. In coming out or going into their burrows either 
side may go in advance, but the male more commonly comes out with 
the large claw forward. According to Mr. Smith’s observations this 
species is a vegetarian, feeding upon the minute alge which grow upon 
the moist sand. , In feeding;themales use only the small claw with which 
