LAND-CRAfc. 481 



the size of the first. They are very voracious animals, and feed 

 on sea- weeds, garbage, and all sorts Of dead bodies. Though the 

 fova are cast at all seasons, they seem only to come to life in July 

 and August. Great numbers of them may then be found in the 

 form of tadpoles, swimming about the little pools left by the tides 

 among the rocks ; arid many also under their proper form, from 

 half an inch to four inches in length. In casting their shells, it is 

 hard to conceive how the lobsters are able to draw the flesh of 

 their large claws out, leaving the shells entire, and attached to the 

 shell of their body, in which state they are constantly found. 

 The fishermen say, the lobster pines before casting, till the flesh of 

 its large claw is no thicker than the quill of a goose, which enables 

 it to draw its parts through the joints and narrow passage near the 

 trunk. The new shell is quite membranaceous at first, but hardens 

 by degrees. Lobsters only grow in size while their shells are in 

 their soft state. They are chosen for the table, by their being 

 heavy in proportion to their size ; and by the hardness of the shells 

 on their sides, which, when in perfection, will not yield to mode- 

 rate pressure. 



2. Land-Crab. 

 Cancer ruricola. Linn. 



The crabs of this species inhabit the Bahama islands, as well as 

 most lands between the tropics. These animals live not only in a 

 kind of orderly society, in the retreats in the mountains ; but 

 regularly, once a year, march down to the sea-side in a body of 

 some millions at a time. As they multiply in great numbers, they 

 choose the month of April or May to begin their expedition ; and 

 then sally out by thousands from the stumps of hollow trees, from 

 the clefts of rocks, and from the holes which they dig for them- 

 selves under the surface of the earth. At that time the whole 

 ground is covered with this band of adventurers ; there is no set- 

 ting down one's foot without treading upon them. The sea is their 

 place of destination, and to that they direct their march with right- 

 lined precision. No geometrician could send them to their des- 

 tined station by a shorter course ; they neither turn to the right 

 nor left, whatever obstacles intervene \ and even if they meet with 



vol. v. 2 I 



