86 RAMBLESOF 



not previously witnessed it. What is more remark- 

 able, they possess the power of moving equally well 

 with any part of the body foremost so that, when 

 endeavouring to escape, they will suddenly dart off 

 to one side or the other, without turning round, and 

 thus elude pursuit. My observations upon the erus- 

 taceous animals have extended through many years, 

 and in very various situations ; and for the sake of 

 making the general view of their qualities more 

 satisfactory, I will go on to state what I remarked 

 of some of the genera and species in the West 

 Indies, where they are exceedingly numerous and 

 various. The greater proportion of the genera feed 

 on animal matter, especially after decomposition has 

 begun : a large number are exclusively confined to 

 the deep waters, and approach the shoals and lands 

 only during the spawning season. Many live in 

 the sea, but daily pass many hours upon the rocky 

 shores for the pleasure of basking in the sun; 

 others live in marshy or moist ground, at a consi- 

 derable distance from the water, and feed princi- 

 pally on vegetable food, especially the sugar-cane, 

 of which they are extremely destructive. Others, 

 again, reside habitually on the hills or mountains, 

 and visit the sea only once a year, for the purpose 

 of depositing their eggs in the sand. All those 

 which reside in burrows made in moist ground, 

 and those coming daily on the rocks to bask in 

 the sun, participate in about an equal degree in 

 the qualities of vigilance and swiftness. Many a 

 breathless race have I run in vain, attempting to 



