ANATURALIST. 75 



external, is incapable of enlargement. To obviate 

 this difficulty, the Author of nature has endowed 

 them with the power of casting off the entire shell, 

 increasing in size, and forming another equally hard 

 and perfect, for several seasons successively, until 

 the greatest or maximum size is attained, when the 

 change or sloughing ceases to be necessary, though 

 it is not always discontinued on that account. To 

 undergo this change with greater ease and security, 

 the crabs seek retired and peaceful waters, such as 

 the beautiful creek I have been speaking of, whose 

 clear, sandy shores are rarely disturbed by waves 

 causing more than a pleasing murmur, and where 

 the number of enemies must be far less, in propor- 

 tion, than in the boisterous waters of the Chesapeake, 

 their great place of concourse. From the first day 

 of their arrival, in the latter part of June, until the 

 time of their departure, which in this creek occurred 

 towards the first of August, it was astonishing to 

 witness the vast multitudes which flocked towards 

 the head of the stream. 



It is not until they have been for some time in the 

 creek, that the moult or sloughing generally com- 

 mences. They may be then observed gradually 

 coming closer in shore, to where the sand is fine, 

 fairly exposed to the sun, and a short distance far- 

 ther out than the lowest water-mark, as they must 

 always have at least a depth of three or four inches 

 water upon them. 



The individual having selected his place, becomes 

 perfectly quiescent, and no change is observed, during 



