400 KING CRABS. 



Often during the cool evenings, I amused 

 myself by wandering about the extensive beach 

 on this coast, to observe and collect such marine 

 productions as might be interesting ; a great 

 number of dead shells strewed the beach, but 

 living shells, or those containing the soft parts, 

 were rare. Observing an antenna of some crus- 

 taceous animal projecting from the moist sand, 

 left by the receding of the tide, I pulled it, and 

 drew out two fine king crabs, jointed together 

 by their under surfaces, and thug united burrow 

 in the sand; they are called " Ecan, mimi" by 

 the Javanese, and, on this coast, they are named 

 ' ' Moi, moi. " The male is larger than the female ; 

 they are eaten by the Javanese; but on this coast 

 they are not eaten, although the natives observe 

 the Chinese are fond of them.* The females lay 

 their eggs in the sand, after carrying them for 

 some time, and, in about the second month, 

 the young are produced ; these animals are 

 perfectly harmless ; they crawl rapidly, and 

 when touched draw the upper part of the shell 

 a little inwards ; and, as they move, the long 

 antenna bears a resemblance to a tail. When 

 placed on the back, they find much difficulty in 

 regaining their natural position. 



* The Chinese have several species indigenous to the 

 Celestial Empire. 



