NATURAL HISTORY OF OUR SHORES 



either single or forked (Gr., " acute," " beak "). They 

 are divided into the Leptopodiadce (slender-legged) and the 

 Maidce. Let us take first the Maidce. The largest and 

 best known of these is the common " Spider Crab " (Maia 

 squinado). The full-grown male is seven or eight inches 

 across the carapace, which is rounded in all directions 

 except towards the front, which assumes a conical outline. 

 The claws in the male are very long, and these and the legs 

 cover an expanse of twenty-four inches. The female is 

 smaller, and the claws much less developed. 



The carapace is thickly studded with stout spines and 

 rounded tubercles, and both carapace and limbs (not the 

 claws) are densely covered with short, sharp bristles, mostly 

 in the form of hooks. The fingers of the claws are smooth 

 and rounded (without serrations, as in all other crustaceans). 

 The colour is reddish brown with a shade of purple. (The 

 bristles in adult males are usually rubbed off.) 



It is very abundant on all our shores. In the winter it 

 frequents deep water, but in April and May it comes in- 

 shore, chiefly in such places as are covered with sea-grass, 

 among the luxuriant growths of which it conceals itself 

 during the day. 



On the Continent and in the Channel Islands this 

 species is largely used as food ; tons at a time may fre- 

 quently be seen in the Jersey markets. 



They are taken in baited wicker " pots," also on the 

 shore, by a method that perhaps will not commend itself 

 to the sea-side visitor. The shore fisher walks, barefooted, 

 in the shallows, and gropes with his toes for his coveted 

 crabs, the presence of which is ascertained usually by a 

 puncture of the fisher's skin by the sharp spines. The 

 crab is a passive resister, and never attempts defence after 

 the manner of crabs in general. 



The females and young males are usually thickly covered 

 with scraps of sea- weed caught in the hooklike bristles, 



