452 THE ARMED CRAB. 



edge of the water. They seem to rejoice in the hottest rays of the tropical sun, and run about 

 nimbly hither and thither, with the sunbeams flashing on their wet bodies. They are all wary 

 and timid beings, betaking themselves to the water on the least alarm, and flinging themselves 

 into the waves with such force that their flat bodies skim for some little distance over the 

 surface, much as the flying squirrel skims through the air between two trees. While running 

 along, they strike their claws against each other as if for the purpose of menacing their 

 pursuer, and when a number of these crabs are startled in one locality, the clatter which they 

 make is surprising. The color of the Painted Crab is reddish, covered with spots and variega- 

 tions of yellow. It is not at all a large species, the carapace being seldom more than two 

 inches in length. 



The Painted Crab resembles closely a species that inhabits the waters of the Gulf. At 

 Fort Jefferson, Tortugas Islands, we were continually amused by the actions of these Crabs. 

 They were called Spider Crabs, not from their slender-ness, but from a resemblance to the 

 Hunting or Zebra Spiders (Salticus), and particularly from the singularly furtive movements 

 that characterize that group of spiders. Being amphibious, they would be found usually 

 upon the brick walls or piers of the fort. When approached they suddenly flattened them- 

 selves closely against the surface, and their antennas or eyestalks moved quickly, as we have 

 seen those of the above named spiders. 



Two remarkable species of Crabs are the CRESTED and the ARMED CRAB. 



The former, a curious animal, inhabits Japan. Most of the species of this genus are 

 found in the hot parts of the world, such as the Sandwich Islands, the Mauritius, and the 

 West Indies. The whole shape of this creature is strange in the extreme, its carapace being 

 covered with all kinds of tubercles and spines, and edged with saw-like teeth. Even the 

 claws are covered with unexpected spikes and tubercles, and when folded in front oi the body, 

 assume a very crest-like aspect. The creature instinctively makes use of its extraordinary 

 shape for the purpose of concealment, and when it is alarmed, it tucks its legs away under the 

 broad carapace, folds its claws over its front, and remains perfectly motionless in spite of all 

 annoyances. A sailor has been known to find one of these crabs on the sea-shore, to take 

 it for a curious stone, and so to put it in his pocket. Some time afterwards, when he had laid 

 down the supposed stone, he was not a little surprised to see it put forth a number of legs, 

 and run away at best speed. 



The name of Crested Crab is given to this species in allusion to the form of the closed 

 claws. 



The Armed Crab is also a native of Japan and China, and belongs to the same family as 

 the preceding animal. The chief peculiarity in this creature are the four sharp spines with 

 which the carapace is armed, those at the side being of very great dimensions, each measuring 

 half the length of the body. The claws are sharp and powerful, and are formed in a manner 

 somewhat resembling the same members in the crested crab. 



Allusion has more than once been made to the power of voluntarily throwing off a limb, a 

 faculty which is inherent in all the Crustacea, but in some species is prevalent to a wonderful 

 degree. The land-crabs, for example, will always sacrifice their best claw as a means of 

 purchasing safety, and seem able to part with almost any number of Jegs without feeling the 

 loss. If, for example, a land-crab or mud-crab be taken up by the legs it suddenly shakes 

 itself loose, leaving in the captor's hands the limbs which he has grasped, and making off 

 with the remainder. The animal always throws off its limbs at one of the joints, seeming to 

 achieve the feat by a sudden muscular contraction, like the movement which shakes off a 

 blind-worm's tail, snaps away the wings from a flying ant, or breaks up the whole anatomy of 

 a brittle-star into fragments. If the limbs be cut or severed between two of the joints, there 

 is a flow of blood, and the creature seems to feel the injury acutely. It soon, however, heals 

 itself by shaking off the injured portion at the joint immediately below the wound, and then 

 seems to recover itself from the shock. This faculty is very needful to creatures who depend 

 upon their claws for obtaining food, and who are so quarrelsome in disposition. As has 

 already been mentioned, the crustaceans fight terribly, and in those cases where the combat is 



