244 CRUSTACEOUS FISHES. 



terrified, they march back in confufion, holding up their nippers, which 

 they often clatter together, as if threatening their difturbers. If any one 

 is maimed, and incapable of proceerH ,^^' the reft devour it on the fpot, 

 and purfue their journey. After a tho>jfand dangers (fometimes during 

 three months) they arrive at their deftined port, and prepare to caft their 

 fpawn. The peas are within their bodies, not under the tail ; for the 

 creature waits the benefit of the fea-water to help delivery. The Crab 

 having reached the fhore, eagerly goes to the water's edge, and lets the 

 waves wafh over its body, then withdraws to land. In a little time the 

 fpawn grows larger, is excluded, and fticks under the tail, as big as a 

 hen's egg, and exadly rcfembling the rowes of herrings. In this ftate 

 they once more feek the (hore, and fhaking off their fpawn into the wa- 

 ter, leave accident to bring it to maturity. At this time (hoals of fifli at- 

 tend, in expeftation of this annual fupply; and two thirds, perhaps, of 

 the crabs eggs are immediately devoured by them. Thofe that efcape 

 are hatched under the fand j and foon after millions of little crabs are 

 feen quitting the (hore, and flowly travelling up to the mountains. The 

 old ones have become fo feeble and lean, they can hardly creep, and 

 their fleih changes its colour. Moft of them continue in the flat parts 

 of the country till they recover, in holes in the earth: there throwing 

 off their old fheils, as it were whole, the place where they opened on the 

 belly being unfeen: they become naked, and almoft motionlefs for a week 

 together. They have under their ftomachs four large white ftones, 

 which gradually decreafe as the fliell hardens, at which time the animal 

 is feen flowly making its way back ; all this is commonly performed in 

 fix weeks. This Crab, when in the mountains, is impregnable j fub- 

 fifting on vegetables, it feldom ventures out ; and its habitation is inac- 

 cefTible. It is only when compelled to defcend into the flat country 

 that it is taken. The natives wait its defcent, and deftroy thoufands; 

 but only feek that fmall fpawn which lies on each fide the fl:omach within 

 the ftiell, about the thicknefs ot a man's thumb. On their return, being 

 covered with a new flcin, refembiing fofc parchment, almoft every part 

 except the ftomach may be eaten. They are taken in their holes by 

 feeling for them in the ground with an inftrument j or fought after by 

 night with flambeaux. The inftant it perceives itfeif attacked, it falls 

 backward, and with its claws pinches moft terribly. But the dexterous 

 crab-catcher takes them by the hinder legs in fuch a manner, that its 

 pippers cannot toueh him, and throws it into his bag. 



Many are found poifonous, having fed, as it is thought, on the man- 



chincl 



