24 



THE POPULAR EDUCATOE. 



Our notices must be limited to a few only of the more re- 

 markable species, their singular habits and peculiar structure. 

 The spider-crabs, so named from the great length of their legs, 

 are found on many parts of the south, west, and east coasts 

 of England. The large reddish, spine-backed spider-crab of 

 Cornwall (Maia squinado) has sometimes the front legs fifteen 

 inches long. Though little prized ism food, and contemptuously 

 called " spiders" by the fishermen, this crustacean was highly 

 honoured by the ancient Greeks, who deemed it a " rational 

 animal," used it as a symbol of wisdom, and sculptured it on 

 the statue of " Diana of the Ephesians." Still more was this 

 {jenus honoured by receiving the name Maia, that of the mother 



these fights, claws, limbs, and shells are torn, wrenched, and! 

 cracked, with a fury and energy to which a battle between two 

 game-cocks is but play. When a large crab has seized a smaller, 

 he tears open the shell, and scoops out the flesh of his living 

 captive. Perhaps, while the conqueror is enjoying his feast, a 

 still stronger crab will tear open the body of the victor, and feed 

 upon him. The most singular fact is, that a crab, while thus being 

 eaten, will actually continue to feed on the victim seized by him- 

 self. Here appears a total insensibility to suffering. A crab has. 

 been known to lose seven of its limbs in a fight, and imme- 

 diately after to begin eating a captured mollusk, as if nothing 

 particular had happened. These furious battles are probably 



THE SHOEE CBAB (CARCINTJ3 M.&SAS). 



of Mercury ; and it is probable that the month of May was 

 named from the same root. Thus the spine-backed spider-crab 

 is not without a history. 



The common edible crabs of the fish-shops (Cancer pagurvs), 

 though well known, require some notice. They are now chiefly 

 esteemed as a valuable article of food, but in former days, like 

 so many a precious simple and decoction now little prized, they 

 were also employed for therapeutical purposes. Their claws 

 were ground to powder, the carbonate of lime present in the 

 shell being turned to account. This species is found on 

 rocky parts of our coasts, the small animals inhabiting holes 

 in the cliffs, but the larger and more experienced dwelling in deeper 

 waters. When caught and kept alone in an aquarium, one of 

 these crabs may become tame and quite familiar ; but if placed 

 with others of its race, a series of desperate battles will soon de- 

 alare the degree to which the ferocity of the crab may extend. In 



not so common when the crabs are in their natural state, as 

 when pent up in a close marine tank. 



The small red crab (Carcinus mcenas) sold by the London 

 costermongers is, of course, to be classed with the edible 

 kind, though grouped with the portunians, or paddling crabs. 

 It is easily found a little beneath the sand when the tide 

 has gone down. One may be kept for several days in moist 

 sand only ; and if the captor will give his crab a mussel, he 

 will receive his reward by observing the grave earnestness 

 with which the crustacean scoops out the flesh with its hand- 

 like claws. This crab is of a greenish tint when alive ; the 

 red colour of those on the stalls arises from the oxidation of 

 the shell when boiled. 



The veracity of the common crab renders it an easy prey 

 to the fisherman, who has only to bait his wicker traps, called 

 "crab-pots," or "stalkers," with useless or decayed fish, ancl 



