102 TRINIDAD. 



mon. Besides the sea-crabs, there are in the island two land 

 or fresh- water species — one about the size of a dollar, and of a 

 red colour ; it is to be met with only at the beginning of the 

 wet season, at which time it comes forth to breed ; it is not 

 eaten, and the Negroes are under an impression that any one 

 eating it will certainly " turn crazy. " The other land species is 

 as large as the common crab, and of a dark brown colour ; it is 

 called the " mountain crab/'' from being found on the hills, also 

 along the banks, and even in the beds of rivers and brooks ; it 

 is by some much esteemed as an article of food. Among the 

 sea-crabs two kinds are eaten — the blue, which burrows in low 

 lands along the sea-board, and the brown, which lives amidst the 

 rocks. The blue crabs are in such prodigious numbers in some 

 places that the soil is literally furrowed by them ; in September 

 they leave their recesses, and betake themselves to the sea, there 

 to deposit their spawn. 



The island lobsters, cray-fishes, and shrimps, are much like 

 those of Europe ; excellent and very beautiful cray-fish are taken 

 in the Caroni and other rivers, in nets. Both the sea and land 

 crabs are occasionally hurtful, probably from feeding on poisonous 

 substances, more especially the fruits of the Manchoneel tree. 



Arachnida. — Spiders are numerous, and some of them of very 

 large size ; several kinds frequent the dwellings in towns and 

 villages, spreading their webs almost everywhere in houses, where 

 they are useful in destroying cockroaches and other vermin. 

 Two species are venomous, and one particularly so, viz., the crab- 

 spider [Aranea avicularia) ; it bites most severely — swelling of 

 the part and fever for about twenty-four hours being the result. 



There are two species or varieties of scorpions, known as the 

 grey and the black; they are both venomous, yet very seldom 

 does death follow their sting. A few cases, however, have been 

 known of infants having died from exhaustion occasioned by the 

 violent retching produced by the sting of scorpions ; and even 

 adults have been severely affected and weakened. The accidents 

 arising from the bite or sting of scorpions depend evidently upon 

 various causes, and particularly, it would seem, upon the part 

 into which the virus has been instilled, and its more or less 

 complete absorption ; it may also vary in effect according to the 

 age, the sex, or other circumstances connected with the animal 

 itself. 



