12 HISTORY OF BRITISH CRUSTACEA. 



paratus nearly quadrilateral, very broad in front, and far re- 

 moved from the front. Orbits directed outwards. All the 

 Crabs of this tribe seem to be essentially maritime. None 

 of them live in fresh water, or seem to frequent the shore. 

 They are generally found in very deep water ; and, notwith- 

 standing the legs in most cases being very long, their mo- 

 tions are generally sluggish, and when taken from the water 

 they quickly perish. 



The legs of this family of Crabs are generally long and 

 very slender ; and, as Mr. Gosse remarks, they tempt us to 

 think that, if we were so furnished, "we might cover the 

 ground in a style that would put to shame the old giant- 

 slayer's seven-league boots." 



Mr. Couch, in his 'Cornish Fauna/ Part I., pp. 66, 67, 

 observes that the length of the legs in this set of Crabs " ne- 

 cessarily leads to slowness of motion, but they are well fitted 

 to a residence among rocks and stones covered with sea- 

 weeds, among which they stride with little difficulty. In the 

 winter they become almost if not altogether torpid, conceal- 

 ing themselves at this season either in deep crevices of rocks 

 or imbedded in the soil j for the Corwich Crab has been ob- 

 served, when caught at the time of its first activity in April, 

 to have the inequalities of its carapace covered with the mud 



