HABITS OF CRABS. 437 



ever perceived equally well occupied. Creeping stealthily 

 upon these are larger and more formidable Crabs, 

 which come with sidelong steps towards their unwary 

 neighbours, chase, capture, tear, and finally consume 

 them. Others are content to forego their amorous 

 dalliance, and help themselves to worms and little 

 shell-fish, feeding alternately first with one hand and 

 then with the other. Many again lie languidly along 

 the mud, seeming very much to enjoy the genial rays 

 of the sun in listless indolence ; while others are watch- 

 ful at the mouths of holes, ready to pounce upon 

 the Jumping-fish and Squillse that swarm about the 

 mud, and which speedily disappear within their rapa- 

 cious jaws. 



A very splendid species of Cardisoma, which I have 

 named C. Aspasia, inhabits the steep muddy banks at the 

 mouths of the rivers near this part of the coast, where it 

 forms deep cylindrical burrows. It is excessively wary, 

 retreating on the slightest noise into its subterranean 

 domicile, from whence it is not easily dislodged. It 

 appears to be less shy, however, as the evening advances, 

 and is probably nocturnal in its habits, like some of the 

 species of Ocypode. This lovely crustacean, nearly as 

 large as the adult edible crab, has a purple shell mar- 

 gined behind with buff, and feet and claws of a deli- 

 cate lilac. 



The muddy banks of the Batang-Lupar, Sarawak, 

 and many other rivers of Borneo, are covered at low water 

 by numerous handsome species of Gelasimus, among the 

 number of which is an undescribed species which I have 

 named G. rwrulcns, from the beautiful blue colour of its 



