130 OUT OF DOORS. 



these crabs run after and catch the black flies that are so 

 common upon the sand, and once saw a burrowing wasp 

 (Odynerus) snapped up as it alighted on a bit of seaweed ; 

 and I have often seen bees thus caught as they were 

 drinking the salt water. Everyone who has walked 

 along a sandy shore at evening is familiar with the 

 shrimp-like sand-hoppers or sand-skippers (Talitrus) 

 that leap about with such untiring energy, and knows 

 the difficulty of capturing one of these active creatures. 

 Yet I have seen the green crabs give chase to the sand- 

 hoppers, and pounce on them as cats on mice. 



The method employed in their capture of all active 

 animals is unique. As soon as the crab sees the intended 

 prey it sits up for a moment, darts at the doomed being, 

 and literally flings itself upon the victim, imprisoning 

 it beneath the body and hemming it in by means of the 

 legs, which make an impassable cage around it. One 

 of the claws is then inserted under the body, and the 

 prisoner picked daintily out as if by the thumb and 

 finger. One claw then holds the prey, while the other 

 pulls it to pieces and puts the morsels deftly into the 

 mouth. The crab knows the value of time, and loses 

 not a moment in disposing of its prey, tucking it into 

 its voracious maw with amusing despatch, and looking 

 out the while for a fresh victim. Once I saw a very 

 large sand-hopper make its escape from its pursuer. It 

 gained nothing, however, but a temporary release, for 

 the crab instantly gave chase, secured, and ate it in a 

 few moments. 



