656 THE NIPPER AND THE FIGHTING CRAB. 



anioug the rocks at low. water, aad looking out for those rock-masses 

 that are covered with heavy seaweeds. They are armed with a kiud 

 of lance, consisting of an iron hook fastened to a long stick, and with 

 this they poke about in the crevices under the rocks and twist out the 

 crabs that have concealed themselves. These crabs, however, seldom 

 attain any great size, the larger specimens remtiining in the deeper 

 water. The boys call them " pungers," to distinguish them from the 

 green crab. 



The shell of this crab is seldom found entirely clean, being generally 

 encrusted with acorn-barnacles and various marine creatures. Some- 

 times, when the crab is a very old and large one, has ceased growing 

 for several years, and cousequeully has needed no change of shell, it 

 becomes absolutely loaded with all sorts of extraneous growths, and in 

 many cases is almost invisible under its load. There is a very curious 

 specimen in the large collection at the British Museum, where a num- 

 ber of oysters had affixed themselves to the shell, and consequently had 

 been borne about with the crab in all its peregrinations. 



We now arrive at the family of the Portunidoe, or " swimming crabs," 

 which may be recognized by the construction of the last pair of feet, 

 which are flattened sideways, and have the last joint dilated into a thin 

 oblique plate, which answers as an oar or a fin and enables the creature 

 to propel itself through the water. The first example of this family is 

 the Green or Shore Crab, so familiar to every one who has passed 

 even an hour on the coast between the time of high and low water. 

 Although one of the commonest of our native crustaceans, it is at the 

 same time one of the most interesting, and, owing to its diurnal habits, 

 its fearless nature, and its love for the shallow waters, it is very easily 

 observed. I have spent many a pleasant hour in watching the habits 

 of this little ere iture, and could h.irdly have imagined the activity, the 

 piercing sight, and the cleverness with which it is endowed. 



The Nipper Crab is a really wonderful swimmer, being able, ac- 

 cording to Mr. Couch's account, to ascend to the surface of the sea and 

 to pursue its prey through the waters. So well does this creature swim, 

 and so voracious is its appetite, that it captures and eats even the swift- 

 est sea-fish, having been known to pounce upon the mackerel and the 

 pollack. Its method of proceeding seems to be to dart upon its prey, 

 grasp it firmly with its sharply-pointed and powerful claws, and retain 

 its hold until the unfortunate victim is quite fatigued and falls an easy 

 prey. 



We now arrive at another family, called the Ocypodidse, or " swift- 

 footed crabs," from their extraordinary speed, which equals, or even 

 exceeds, that of a man. 



The Fighting Crab is a creature whose name is well deserved. One 

 of its claws is enormously large in proportion to the body, being, indeed. 



