54 HISTORY OP BRITISH CRUSTACEA. 



Although the species of this family are very small, and 

 of themselves would form but a small addition to the food 

 of man, yet they are, in some places where they abound, 

 eaten along with the testacea on which they are parasitic. 

 Mr. Say, after his description of a species found in the 

 common American oyster [Ostrea Virginica), adds, that those 

 who are foud of oysters seldom reject the Pea Crab, and that 

 in the States, in those places where the fresh oyster is opened 

 in considerable numbers, the little Crabs, though only seven- 

 twentieths of an inch long by two-fifths wide, are often col- 

 lected apart and served up to gratify the palate of the gour- 

 mand.* 



Pinnotheres pistjm, Penn. sp. Common Pea Crab. (Plate 

 IV. fig. 1.) — Carapace soft. Front prominent in the male, 

 not extending beyond the bent line formed by the front part 

 in the female. Lower edge of the hands fringed with hairs. 

 Abdomen of female circular. 



Commonly found in the common Mussel, and sometimes 

 in the common Cockle, but rarely in the Oyster; the female 

 (fig. I) is much more common than the male (fig. a). Mr. 

 Bell describes the male as beiiie: variable in colour. It is 

 generally of a pale yellowish-grey, with somewhat darker 

 * Journ. Acad. Sc. Phil. i. 68. 



