200 THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 
here they do not, as with us, inhabit solely the salt waters, but also 
people the brooks and rivers, or even constantly sojourn on land, 
—as, for instance, the Thelphuse and Gecarcim. There are even 
some species of land-crabs that suffo- 
cate when dipped into water. They 
breathe indeed through branchie, 
but the small quantity of oxygen 
dissolved in water does not suffice 
for the wants of their active respira- 
tion. They generally live in the 
shades of the damp forests, often at a great distance from the 
sea, concealing themselves in holes. At breeding time they 
generally seek the shore for the purpose of washing off their 
spawn, and depositing it in the sand, and no obstruction will 
then make them deviate from the straight path. They feed on 
vegetable substances, and are reckoned very excellent food. 
When taken, they will seize the person’s finger with their claw, 
and endeavour to escape, leaving the claw behind, which for 
some time after it has been separated from the body, continues 
to give the finger a friendly squeeze. In the dusk of the evening 
they quit their holes, and may then be seen running about with 
great swiftness. 
All sandy and muddy coasts of the tropical seas, affording 
sufficient protection against a heavy sea, swarm with crabs. 
In the East and West Indies the Gelasimi bore in every 
direction circular holes in the moist black soil of the coast. 
One of the claws of these remarkable creatures is much larger 
than the other, so as sometimes to surpass 
in size the whole remainder of the body. 
They make use of it as a door, to close the 
entrance of their dwelling, and when run- 
ning swiftly along, carry it upright over the 
head, so that it seems to beckon likean out- 
Large-Clawed Calling: stretched hand. One might fancy the crab 
moved it as in derision of its pursuers, tell- 
ing them by pantomimic signs, “Catch me if you can!” 
As soon as the ebbing flood lays bare the swampy grounds of 
the mangrove woods, myriads of animals are seen wallowing in 
the pestiferous mud. Here a fish jumps about, there a holo- 
thuria crawls, and crabs run along by thousands in every direc- 
Jamaica Land-Crab. 
