84 RAMBLES OF 



as high as possible. One quick step on the part of the 

 individual approaching- was enough away they would 

 go, with a celerity which must appear surprising to any 

 one who had not previously witnessed it. What is more 

 remarkable, they possess the power of moving equally 

 well with any part of the body foremost, so that when 

 endeavouring to escape, they will suddenly dart off to 

 one side or the other, without turning round, and thus 

 elude pursuit. My observations upon the crustaceous 

 animals have extended through many years, and in very 

 various situations ; and for the sake of making the gene- 

 ral view of their qualities more satisfactory, I will go on 

 to state what I remarked of some of the genera and spe- 

 cies in the West Indies, where they are exceedingly nu- 

 merous and various. The greater proportion of the genera 

 feed on animal matter, especially after decomposition has 

 begun ; a large number are exclusively confined to the 

 deep waters, and approach the shoals and lands only during 

 the spawning season. Many live in the sea, but daily 

 pass many hours upon the rocky shores for the pleasure 

 of basking in the sun; others live in marshy or moist 

 ground, at a considerable distance from the water, and 

 feed principally on vegetable food, especially the sugar 

 cane, of which they are extremely destructive. Others 

 again reside habitually on the hills or mountains, and 

 visit the sea only once a year for the purpose of depositing 

 their eggs in the sand. All those which reside in bur- 

 rows made in moist ground, and those coming daily on 



