22 HISTORY OF BRITISH CRUSTACEA. 



Gen. 5. HYAS, Leach. 



Outer antennae with the first joint of the movable stem 

 flattened and widened on the outer side. Carapace wide, 

 rather depressed. Legs much as in Pisa, only longer ; the 

 tarsus of the four hind pairs without spines on their lower 

 surfaces. 



Hyas Araneus, L. sp. Great Spider Crab. — Carapace 

 narrowed in front, and without any distinct contraction 

 behind the orbits. 



Common on various parts of the coasts of Scotland, 

 England, and Ireland. Dr. James Howderi, for instance, 

 says that it is frequently met with on sandy beaches, as at 

 Musselburgh, in the salmon stake-nets, where it indulges 

 its carnivorous propensities on the fish left dry by the tide.* 

 Dr. Howden adds, that the Hyas feeds during the day, and 

 seems to prefer its food a little high. Sir Robert Sibbald 

 calls it the Harper Crab. It is very common in the Moray 

 Firth, near low-water mark. Mr. Gordon says that the 

 fishermen there call it " sea-tead," that is sea-load. 



Hyas coarctattjs, Leach. Contracted Crab. — Carapace 



* Proc. R. Phys. Soc. Edin., Jan. 1853. 



