174 NATURAL HISTORY OF OUR SHORES 



hairs, and works continuously at trimming itself. It is 

 very interesting to watch this operation. The tips of the 

 claws are small and delicately pointed, and with these little 

 bits of weed are gently picked up and carefully set in 

 position ; never more gracefully did taper fingers affix a 



Fig. 79. Stenorhynchus Egyptius. Natural size 



flower in their fair owner's hair than this little crab's claws 

 arrange their owner's toilet. 



1^ Oftentimes I have noticed one or two of these crabs 

 fully stretched out in some gravel-bottomed pool among 

 the Zostera beds in full sunshine, and had to look closely 

 to see that they were not tufts of one of the red sea-weeds 

 (see Fig. 80). 



One splendid little species is Adieus cranchii. It is of very 

 peculiar habit. A glance at Fig. 81 will show that its hinder 

 legs are furnished with large, hooked tips ; by these it adheres 



