160 NATURAL HISTORY OF OUR SHORES 



they are white, but soon take on the characteristic red 

 brown of the adult. 



Adult females come to shore from the deep water at the 

 " spawning " time (generally October), and may then often 

 be found partially buried in shell gravel, chiefly near rocks. 



Closely resembling the edible crab in general outline and 

 in colour, in fact, in every way except in size, convexity of 

 the back, and the possession of some stiff hairs on the 

 carapace, is a splendid little fellow named Pilumnus hirtellus. 

 It is shown of its natural size (Fig. 66). It frequents the 

 same localities as the last. 



Another genus that has some resemblance to the edible 

 crab is Xantho. Some people, even fishermen, believe that 

 it is the edible crab, which has been stunted in growth, and 

 become old and wrinkled without having advanced in size. 

 The French fishermen term it " Le Crabe Druine " and " Le 

 Vieux Crabe" ("withered" and "old"). It is a robust 

 form, the species termed Xantho florida (Figs. 67 and 68) 

 especially. It is brownish yellow in colour, the carapace 

 strongly rugose and knobbed, also more quadrangular than 

 in the species above namecj. Its claws are largely de- 

 veloped, and have tremendous pinching power (this last is 

 strongly impressed upon me). The size of the adult male 

 is about three inches across. 



Xaiitho rivulosa is less " fossil-looking," smaller, less 

 convex and rugose, and the colour is cream-yellow, with 

 purple marbling. Both these species occur under stones, in 

 rocky situations, rather low down in tide range. Neither 

 is common, but yet cannot be said to be rare. 



The so - called " Swimming Crabs " (Portunidce) are 

 represented on our shores by numerous species. 



The one usually taken as the type is Portunus puber, the 

 " Velvet Fiddler," the " Lady Crab," etc. (Fig. 69), of dif- 

 ferent districts. 



It is a beautiful crustacean, of graceful and decided form, 



