24 HISTORY OF BRITISH CRUSTACEA. 



Gen. 6. v MAIA, Lam. 



Outer antennae with the movable stem inserted within 

 the inner canthus of the orbit, and exposed to view. Cara- 

 pace oval, somewhat pointed in front; beak very strong, 

 formed of two diverging horns; carapace, especially on the 

 sides, with spines and tubercles. Front legs, even in the 

 male, scarcely longer than the others, the fingers pointed at 

 the end. Abdomen, in both sexes, of seven joints. 



Maia Squinado, Herbst. sp. Thorn-Lack Crab. (Plate II. 

 fig. 1.) — Carapace of a roundish-oval form, covered with 

 sharp spines ; beak prominent, its two horns slightly diverg- 

 ing. Pound abundantly- on many parts of our coasts. 



The Rev. Charles Kingsley* gives the following lively 

 picture of the important services of this Crab as a remover of 

 nuisances. "In the boat, silent and neglected, sat a fellow- 

 passenger who was a greater adept at removing nuisances 

 than the whole Board of Health put together; and who had 

 done his work, too, with a cheapness unparalleled ; for all 

 his good deeds had not as yet cost the State one penny. 

 True, lie lived by his business ; so do other inspectors of 

 nuisances : but nature, instead of paying Maia Squinado, 



* Glaucus ;. or. the "Wonders of the Shore, pp. 133-135. 



