THE GREEN CRAB. 131 



Fierce and destructive as it may be, the green crab 

 is itself a frequent victim to more powerful foes, and is 

 often doomed, with poetical justice, to undergo the 

 sufferings which it has inflicted upon other beings. 1 

 None are more terrible enemies than those of its own 

 species, for the crab is an insatiate cannibal, devouring 

 its own kindred without the slightest compunction. In 

 all these cases, however, it is needful that the dimen- 

 sions of slain and slayer should be very disproportionate, 

 as the crab cares not to earn a meal through a fight. 



I was lately witness to a very amusing episode, where 

 a large and powerful crab caught sight of a tender little 

 one, as it scuttled over the wet sand. Away started the 

 giant in full chase, and away ran the pigmy, as if know- 

 ing that life and death hung on the issue of the race. 

 In spite of the great disproportion in size, the superior 

 activity of the smaller crab prevented its pursuer from 

 gaining much ground, but at last its strength evidently 

 began to fail, and I thought it must inevitably succumb 

 to the terrible foe that pressed so fiercely on its foot- 

 steps. Suddenly, however, it darted under a stem of 

 laminaria that was lying on the shore, gathered all its 

 limbs under its shell, and there lay motionless. The 

 pursuer was instantly baffled. It raised itself in the air, 

 and surveyed the shore in all directions. Then it 

 prowled about like a cat that has lost a mouse. It even 



1 Mr. Gosse mentions that he saw one crab, while eating another, 

 seized by a larger crab and eaten in his turn. He did not seem to be 

 sensible of the fact, but went on eating until he was entirely crushed. 



it 2 



