74 INVERTEBRATE ANIMALS. 



Section B. — Crabs with quadrilateral shields = Famille 

 des Catometopes (Milne Edwards). 



Group 179.— Family GRAPSID^. 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. 

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



IT Examples of Goniopsis, Sesarma, Trichoptis, 

 Plagusia, &c. 



Group 180.— Families OCYPODIDiE and GONOPLACID^. 

 The Ocypodians, as the name implies, are very swift 

 runners, being nearly always on the strand where they 

 dig holes in which for the most part they remain during 

 the day, coming forth to feed at night. They are said 

 to hybernate in holes further from the sea. The species 

 of Gelasimus are remarkable for the enormous size of 

 the claw on one side of the male crab : they live together 

 in pairs in holes on the beach : the large chelaD are 

 used to defend the entrance to the hole.* The Gono- 

 placians are good swimmers, and are generally found 



* My friend, Canon Kingslet, describes the demeanour of this Crab as 

 irresistibly ludicrous : " One of his claw arms, generally the left, has dwin- 

 dled to a mere nothing and is not seen ; while along the whole front of his 

 shell lies folded one mighty arm on which he trusts ; and with that arm, 

 when danger appears he beckons the enemy to come on, with such wild 

 defiance that he has gained therefrom the name of Gelasivius vocans, ' The 

 Calling Laughable ' : and it were well if all scientific names were as well 

 fitted." ("At Last," vol. ii., p. 89." ) 



