544 Crustacea. 



siderable and essential difference between them and the 

 lobsters, prawns, shrimps, and crayfish. 



The most remarkable circumstance in the history of 

 these animals is the changing of their shells and the 

 renewal of their broken claws. The former, as it is 

 stated, take place once a year, and usually between 

 Christmas and Easter. During the operation they retire 

 among the cavities of rocks, and under great stones. 

 Crabs are naturally quarrelsome amongst themselves, 

 and frequently have serious contests, by means of those 

 formidable weapons, their great claws. With these 

 they lay hold of their adversary's legs ; and wherever 

 they seize, it is not easy to make them forego their 

 hold. The animal seized has, therefore, no other al- 

 ternative but to leave part of the leg behind in token 

 of victory. 



An experiment was tried to prove the extremely 

 tenacious disposition of the Crab. By irritating it, a 

 fisherman made a Crab seize one of its own small claws 

 with a large one. The animal did not distinguish that 

 it was itself the aggressor, but exerted its strength, and 

 soon cracked the shell of the small claw. Feeling itself 

 wounded, it cast off the piece in the usual place, but 

 continued to hold it with the great claw for a long time 

 afterwards. 



The Violet Land-Crabs oi ilie Caribbuo Islands aro 



