Liberia <+-- 



Leeches {Hirudo ? or possibly Limnatis) are common in 

 the swamps and even in the wet grass (Hamadipsd) in some 

 districts, as will soon be discovered by any European traveller 

 who is foolish enough to wade through swamps or streams with 

 bare feet and legs. 



Although Biittikofer noticed no case of guinea-worm 

 (Filaria medinensis) in Liberia, this pest has evidently begun to 

 spread southwards from the Mandingo hinterland, where it is 

 very common. It is already frequently met with on the Ivory 

 Coast, to the east of Liberia, and cases occur amongst the 

 Mandingos in the western part of Liberia. But this worm is 

 more associated with the drier regions of Africa than with the 

 forest country of heavy rains. Some description of it is given 

 in the chapter dealing with the diseases of the natives. 



As regards the CRUSTACEA, they are abundantly represented 

 in the coast region by the great land crabs of the mangrove 

 swamps and river banks (Cardisoma). The fresh-water crabs of 

 the widespread genus Thelphusa are found all over Liberia, 

 often at some distance from water, in the trees or the damp 

 undergrowth of the forest. At the breeding season they resort 

 to holes in the river banks under the water. As Thelphusa is 

 so often in evidence in the daytime, its habits cannot be so 

 nocturnal as they are stated to be by Dr Biittikofer. In the 

 mangrove and pandanus swamps two small shore crabs arc 

 found of the genera Gelasimus and Sesarma. The first-named 

 has the left claw disproportionately large and brightly coloured 

 in the males, and the second (Sesarma) has blue claws. Both of 

 these crabs can climb trees and even scramble along slender 

 branchcs, no doubt in the pursuit of insects or other food. 



The great land crabs of the coast region (Cardisoma) also 

 have one claw (the left) disproportionately developed, and strong 



842 



