TIIK CKAVFISII AND ITS ALLIES 107 



the East Indian hermit-crabs, the so-called palm-crab, feeds 

 upon cocoanuts, which it opens by inserting its claws into 

 the eyes and then breaking the shell upon the rocks. 



The Hippidae include certain oval animals, which bur- 

 row, like a mole, head first, in sandy beaches. The name 

 of our common eastern species, Hippa l talpoides? indicates 

 this resemblance (Fig. 100). 



FIG. 99. Eupayurus longlcarpus removed FIG. 100. Hippa talpoides. 

 from shell, x Ifc. Photo, by W. H. C.P. Nat. size. Photo, by 



W. H. C. P. 



The Brachyura are represented on our shores by three 

 principal families, which may be designated as triangular 

 crabs, arched crabs, and square crabs. 



The spider-crabs, or sea-spiders, as they are sometimes 

 called, belong to the triangular crabs. As their name 

 implies, their legs are very long and slender. 3 These crabs 

 frequent oyster-beds and sea-bottoms in general. When 



1 From frrTTos, horse ; used by Aristotle as the name of a kind of crab. 



2 Like talpa, the mole. 3 Fig. 101. 



