436 HABITS OF CRABS. 



dicular descent of many hundred feet, by ladders of 

 bamboo and rattan, over a sea rolling violently against 

 the rocks. When the mouth of the cavern is attained, 

 the perilous office of taking the nests must often be per- 

 formed with torch-light, by penetrating into recesses of 

 the rock, when the slightest trip would be instantly fatal 

 to the adventurers, who see nothing below them but the 

 turbulent surf making its way into the chasms of the 

 rock."* 



Before taking leave of this part of Borneo, I must make 

 a few observations on the habits of certain crustaceans. On 

 tropical mudflats, I was always very much amused at the 

 multitudes of Crabs that take their pastime there, those 

 active, predatory, rapacious busy-bodies, presenting forms 

 so anomalous, manners so strange, and motions so gro- 

 tesque. As soon as the water recedes from the shore on 

 the ebbing of the tide, and the large firm mudflats are 

 left exposed, myriads of crustaceans of every form and 

 colour issue from their various holes and hiding-places, to 

 enjoy the heat, to forage for their food, and to propagate 

 their kind. The males of many species, after looking 

 cautiously about them, stalk a few paces with their huge 

 single pincers raised in the air, which they snap frequently 

 together, producing a slight clicking sound, then rushing 

 eagerly towards their females, they seem to embrace with 

 their arms their smaller and more dingy paramours. The 

 salute is very brief, and is followed by the swift retreat of 

 the lady-crabs into their different habitations. These 

 belong chiefly to the burrowing Macrophtlialmi. Many 

 of the genera Sesarma, Gonoplax, and Grapsus, are how- 



* Vol. iii., p. 433. 



