PAGURUS. CRUSTACEA. 161 



Gen. 45. PAGURUS, Lat. Cancer, Lin. 

 Exterior antennae distant, long, setaceous, the superior extre- 

 mity of the second joint with a moveable spine ; the interior 

 ones short and approximated ; body oblong, with the shell 

 slightly crustaceous ; tail long, almost naked, rarely divided 

 into segments, and furnished at its extremity with lateral ap- 

 pendages ; anterior feet unequal, terminated in forceps ; the 

 last four pairs very small. 



The animals of this genus, called Hermit or Soldier Crabs, from the idea of their 

 living in tents or cells, inhabit empty univalve shells of various species, which 

 they drag about with them. The soft part of their body is inclosed in the shell, and 

 at its opening appear only six feet and the antennae. As they increase in size 

 they remove to a larger empty shell. The same species inhabits shells of different 

 kinds, the convenience or capacity of the dwelling seeming the only objects of choice. 

 Numbers are found in the British coasts, in pools among the rocks. 



P. Bernhardus, Lat. Forceps shagreened and muricated, the right 

 larger than the left ; extremity of the arms, and feet of the second 

 and third pairs spinous. Inhabits European coasts, and abund- 

 ant in the British seas, inhabiting various species of univalve shells. 

 Pen. Brit. Zool. iv. pi. 18. 



P. striatus, Lat. Forceps and feet transversely striated, striae ci- 

 liated ; left forceps larger than the right, with short toes, obtuse- 

 ly dentated within ; body oblong, smooth, carmine red, shading 

 to pale yellow. Inhabits Mediterranean sea. Risso, Crust. 54. 



FAMILY III. PALINURINI. 



Post-abdomen terminated by a fan-shaped fin, formed with the 

 last segment and the lateral appendages of the preceding. 



Gen. 4>6. PALINURUS, Lat. 



Exterior antennae excessively long, setaceous, rough with hairs 

 or spines ; the two intermediate shorter, with the last joint bi- 

 fid ; exterior feet-jaws resembling a pair of feet, with the first 

 two pieces dentated and hairy internally ; feet of medium length, 

 all terminated by a short claw ; shell semicylindrical, rough 

 with points ; abdomen elongated, bent below towards the end, 

 of six joints, and terminated by five laminae, disposed like a 

 fan ; eyes large and round, on narrow peduncles. 

 P. locusta, Oliv. (P. vulgaris, Lat. Astacus homarus, Penn.) 

 Shell spinous, rough with short and stiff hairs, and armed ante- 

 riorly with two large compressed spines, dentated below ; colour 

 deep greenish-brown, dotted with yellowish- white. 1 foot long. 

 Inhabits European seas. B. Penn. Brit. Zool. iv. pi. 12. 

 This species, though described by Aristotle and other ancient authors, was not 

 noticed by Linnaeus. Fabricius described it under the name of Cancer deplias and 

 Palinurus quadricornis ; but it was not properly ascertained till the recent investi- 

 gations of Olivier and Latreille ascertained its distinguishing characters. It is about 

 a foot and a half long, and weighs, when full of ova, from twelve to fourteen pounds. 

 The shell is spinous, rough with short and stiff hairs, and armed anteriorly with 

 two large compressed spines, dentated below. The flesh of the female is much 

 VOL. II. L 



