182 WONDERS OF ORGANIC LIFE. 



this time, the crab is in the richest state, and is 

 covered only with a tender membranous skin, 

 variegated with a multitude of reddish veins ; 

 but this in time hardens, and soon becomes a 

 perfect shell like the former. This crab runs 

 very fast, and always endeavours to get into 

 some hole or crevice on the approach of danger ; 

 nor does it wholly depend on its art and swift- 

 ness, for while it retreats it keeps both claws 

 expanded, ready to catch the offender if he 

 should come within its reach, and if it succeeds 

 on these occasions it commonly throws off the 

 claw, which continues to squeeze with incredible 

 force for nearly a minute afterwards ; while it, 

 (the crab,) regardless of the loss, endeavours to 

 make its escape, and gain a more secure or 

 more lonely covert, contented to renew his 

 limb with his coat at the ensuing change." 



Turning from the New World to India, we 

 may refer to some details which are given by 

 the late bishop Heber, relative to some land- 

 crabs which he met with at a great distance 

 from the sea, all access to which appeared to 

 be denied by formidable obstacles. Most pro- 

 bably, however, these crabs were fluviatile in 

 their habits, (as is the river crayfish of Europe, 

 the miniature representative of the marine 

 lobster,) and deposited their eggs in adjacent 

 tanks or rivers. If our suspicion be correct, 

 there will be nothing strange in the fact that 

 fluviatile as well as marine Crustacea are semi- 

 terrestial. Let us, however, read what bishop 

 Heber details : — " The plain of Poonah is very 



