REMARKABLE LAND-CRAB. 291 



turbinated shell, from an Ancittaria, incrusted with an 

 alcyonoid sponge. Others, again, like the Birgus latro, 

 live high up the mountains, in holes of rocks, and in hol- 

 low trees. Regarding this Pirate, the natives of Batan 

 tell very remarkable stories. They say it utters a sharp 

 cry when caught, that it bites most severely, and defends 

 itself with desperation, that it carries its eyes in its tail, 

 runs with surprising celerity, feigning death when alarmed, 

 and cuts down with its chelae the young Cocoa-nut trees. 

 From observation, I can say they run swiftly backwards, 

 feign death when disturbed, feed on fruits, and are of 

 immense strength. They are numerous at the Meia- 

 co-shimah Group, where they inhabit holes in the banks 

 among the pine woods. At Cocos Island, they are said 

 to be destructive to the young Cocoa-nut trees. Sir E. 

 Belcher informs me they attain to an enormous size in 

 Pitcairns Island, and that there is a tradition of a woman, 

 after having been cast ashore senseless, from a wreck, 

 being deprived of her babe, by one of these giant Land- 

 Crabs, and who was rescued only by the death of the 

 captor. 



The Hermit-Crabs form three large divisions, the Sir- 

 gw, entirely terrestrial, and unprovided with a borrowed 

 protective shell; one (Cenobitd) which lives in shallow 

 bays, fresh-water pools, or on the borders of woods, near 

 the sea, and which closes the aperture of its dwelling with 

 its left chela, and second left ambulatory foot ; and a 

 third-class (Paguri), which live at the bottom of the sea, 

 at greater depths, which have foot-claws, elongated and 

 feeble, extending straight forwards, and never closing the 



