i8 



OUR SEARCH FOR A WILDERNESS. 



less fortunate fellows had to scamper in frantic haste up the 

 roots of their larger brethren. The indignant owner would 

 rush at the trespasser with uplifted pincers, sometimes forc- 

 ing him to leap for his life. Where an unusually large tree 

 was frequented by many crabs, their carapaces bore a close 



FIG. 8. OUR FLOATING HOME AT LA CEIBA. 



resemblance to its pattern and hue, but among these more 

 aerial and roving crabs the mimicry was, on the whole, less 

 striking than among the sedentary class. In the latter, pro- 

 tective coloration was carried to a greater degree of perfec- 

 tion than I have ever seen it elsewhere. These were loath to 

 leave their roots and swim, preferring to run swiftly down until 

 they reached the mud. This habit made it easy to catch them, 



