MIGRATIONS 125 



for a time, and return to them to cast their 

 spawn ; but the most celebrated of all is that 

 known by the above appellation, and alluded to 

 by Dr. Paley, under the name of the violet crab, 

 and which is called by French the tourlourou. 1 

 These crabs are natives of the West Indies and 

 South America. In May and June, when the 

 rainy season takes place, their instinct impels 

 them to seek the sea, that they may fulfil the 

 great law of their Creator, and cast their spawn. 

 They descend the mountains, which are their 

 usual abode, in such numbers, that the roads 

 and woods are covered with them. They feel 

 an impulse so to steer their course, that they 

 may travel by the easiest descent, and arrive 

 most readily at the sea, the great object at which 

 they aim. They resemble a vast army march- 

 ing in battle array, without breaking their ranks, 

 following always a right line; they scale the 

 houses, and surmount every other obstacle that 

 lies in their way. They sometimes even get 

 into the houses, making a noise like that of rats, 

 and when they enter the gardens they commit 

 great devastations, destroying all their produce 

 with their claws. They are said to halt twice 

 every day, and to travel chiefly in the night. 

 Arrived at the sea-shore, they are there reported 

 to bathe three or four different times ; when 

 ' 



1 Gecarcinus carnifex. 



