334 * THE CRAB. 



pearance of thumbs : the rest of the body is covered 

 with a shell as large as a man's hand, and bunched in 

 the middle, on the fore part of which appears the two 

 eyes, which resemble a grain of barley in shape, though 

 it is impossible for crystal to be more transparently 

 bright. A little below these the mouth is placed, in 

 which are two broad and very sharp teeth, which are 

 not situated like those of other animals, but unite like 

 the blades of a pair of scissars. With these they can 

 easily cut leaves, fruits, and rotten wood, which is 

 their accustomed food. 



These animals not only live in a kind of orderly so- 

 ciety in the mountains, but regularly once a-year march 

 down to the sea-side in a body, containing millions at 

 a time, for the purpose of casting their spawn upon the 

 shore. As they multiply in astonishing numbers, they 

 choose the months of April or May for commencing 

 their extraordinary expedition, when, as was observed, 

 they set out by thousands from the hollow stumps of 

 trees or clefts of rocks, and pursue their course with 

 as much order and regularity as the most highly dis- 

 ciplined army could observe. They are generally di- 

 vided into three battalions, and pursue their way in a 

 straight forward line, and never suffer any obstacles to 

 impede their flight. The night is the general time of 

 their proceeding, as they are not able to endure both 

 fatigue and heat; but, if it happens to rain during the 

 day, they always avail themselves of its refreshing 

 power ; and, the moment they arrive at the wished-for 

 haven, the whole body crawls into the sea, where they 

 remain for some minutes, that the waves may pass over 

 their shells. After this they quit the margin of the 

 ocean in search of some retired situation upon land, 

 where they remain for the space of a few days, and 



