280 On the Land Crabs of' Jamaica 



plauses. M. Bosc's eloge appears in all respects worthy of oc- 

 cupying a place among those which form the interesting collec- 

 tion of which three volumes have already been published by 

 Cuvier. 



On tfie Land Crabs of Jamaica. By Alexander Barclay, 

 Esq. 



f^KABs abound in the eastern part of Jamaica, at all seasons, 

 but are considered to be best in the months the names of 

 which contain the letter R. They are most plentiful in May, the 

 season at which they deposite their eggs, or run, as the Negroes 

 express it, and when the earth is literally covered with them. 

 At this season it is impossible to keep them out of the houses, 

 or even out of the bed-rooms, where, at one time scratching 

 with their large claws, and at another rattling across the floor, 

 they make a noise that would not a little astonish and alarm a 

 stranger. Occasionally they will lodge themselves very snugly 

 in a boot, and if a person puts his foot upon them inadvertently, 

 he has quick intimation of the intruder, by a grasp of his nippers. 

 For a few weeks in this season, they may be gathered in any 

 quantities, and the Negroes sometimes hurt themselves by mak- 

 ing too free use of them. Even the hogs catch them, although 

 not always with impunity, as a crab sometimes gets hold of one 

 of them by the snout, from which he is not easily disengaged ; 

 and the terrified animal runs about squeaking in great distress. 

 At other seasons, and when more valuable, they are caught 

 by torch light at night, and put into covered baskets. Crowds 

 of Negroes from the neighbouring plantations pass my house 

 every evening with their torches and baskets, going to a crab 

 wood on the other side, and return before midnight fully laden. 

 Their baskets will contain about 40 crabs, and the regular price 

 is a five-penny piece, our smallest coin, equal to about 3|d. 

 SterUng, for five or six crabs. At this rate a Negro will make 

 2s. 6d. currency in an evening ; and the more improvident, who 

 will not cultivate provision grounds, dejiend, in some measure, 

 upon catching crabs, and selling them to the others. A hun- 

 dred plantains, usually sold at five shillings, will purchase from 



