LAND-CRABS. 75 



greenish, which becomes .'ad by boiling, as is the case with most 

 crusta'ceans. Among the crabs, properly so called, is the Cancer 

 jmgurus (Jig. 63), which is among the largest species ; the cara- 

 pace is somewhat oval, ten to twelve inches wide, of a reddish- 

 brown colour, and festooned on the edges; its flesh is much 

 esteemed. A group, named Portunus (from the Latin, portus, 

 a haven or bay), is distinguished by the lamellar form of the last 

 joint of the posterior legs; these crabs are essentially swimmers. 



5. Land-crabs Gecarci'nus (Jig. 64) inhabit the West 

 Indies and other warm countries. These crabs, instead of living 

 in the sea, as most crusta'ceans do, are essentially terrestrial, and 

 they sometimes live at 



a considerable distance 

 from the shore. They, 

 nevertheless, avoid ex- 

 tremely dry situations, 

 arid are ordinarily found 

 in marshy districts. 

 They all dig deep holes. 

 They are commonly 

 seen at night, or just 

 after abundant rains, Fig. 64. LAND-CRAB. 



when they sally forth in 



crowds from their subterranean habitations in pursuit of food , 

 some species live principally on vegetables ; but others seek ani- 

 mal food with avidity ; great numbers are found in cemeteries ; 

 and, it is said that, in the West Indies, they have been known to 

 enter dissecting-rooms to feast on the dead. 



6. One of the most curious points in the history of these ani- 

 mals is that they make an annual journey to the sea-shore. In. 

 the rainy season they abandon their holes ; they assemble in 

 almost numberless troops, and, guided by an instinct which is 

 incomprehensible to us. take a direct line towards the sea, although 

 they are often very distant from it. They travel chiefly at night, 

 and nothing but large rivers arrests or turns them from their 

 route ; they march over houses, scale rocks, and often destroy 

 whole plantations, cutting and destroying the yo.ung plants as 

 they pass along. Having reached the sea, these armies of crabs 

 plunge in and bathe several times, and then retire to the plains or 

 neighbouring woods. Sometime afterwards the females go again 

 to the sea and there deposit their eggs ; then they take up their 

 inarch and return to their ordinary abode; but at this time they 

 are so thin and feeble, they can scarcely drag themselves along. 



5. What are the characters of land-crabs? 



6. What are the habits of land-crabs ? 



