482 THE OCEAN WORLD. 



breathing organs ; in other cases the animal has no special organs of 

 respiration. 



Nearly all the Crustaceans are strong, hardy, and destructive, 

 forming a horde of nocturnal hrigands merciless marauders, who recoil 

 from no trap in which they can lie in wait for their prey. They fight 

 a I entrance not only with their enemies, hut often among themselves, 

 either for a prey or for a female, sometimes for the sake of the fight. 

 The miserable creatures struggle audaciously with their claws. The 

 carapace generally resists the most formidable blows ; but the feet, 

 the tail, and, above all, the antennae, suffer frightful mutilation. 

 Happily for the vanquished, the mutilated members sprout again 

 after a few weeks of repose. This is the reason for the many Crus- 

 taceans met with having the talons of very unequal size : the smaller 

 are those lost in battle replaced. Nature has willed that the Crus- 

 tacean should not long remain an invalid. They soon return cured 

 of their wounds. "We have seen lobsters," says Moquin-Tandon, 

 " which have in an unfortunate rencounter lost a limb, sick and 

 debilitated, reappear at the end of a few months with a perfect limb, 

 vigorous, and ready for service. Nature, how thou fillest our souls 

 with astonishment and wonder !" 



On the Spanish coast there is a species of crab, known, singularly 

 enough, by the name of Boccaccio ; it is caught for its claw, which is 

 considered excellent eating. This is cut off, and the mutilated animal 

 is thrown into the sea, to be taken at some future time when the claw 

 has reappeared. 



Crustaceans are nearly all carnivorous, and eat eagerly all other 

 animals, whether living or dead, fresh or decomposed. Little think they 

 of the quality or condition of their food. It is amusing to witness the 

 address and gravity with which the common crab, when it has seized 

 an unfortunate mussel, holds the valve open with one claw, while with 

 the other it rapidly detaches the animal, carrying each morsel to the 

 mouth, as one might do with the hand, until the shell is entirely 

 empty. The crab does not kill its prey directly, like the lobster ; it 

 is swallowed also, but with greater appreciation. 



M. Charles Lespes surprised upon the shore at Koyan a shoal 

 of crabs at their repast. This day they seem to have dined in 

 common, and " God knows the enjoyment," as the good Fontaines said. 

 They were in rows, every head turned to the same side, and nearly 



