THE LAND CRATJ. 339 



Regularity of their processions. 



a body of some millions at a time to the sea- 

 coast, in order to deposit their spawn, and at this 

 season the whole ground seems alive with them. 

 They march in a direct line to their place of 

 destination, and are said seldom to turn out of 

 their way on account of intervening obstacles; 

 even if they meet with a lofty wall or a house, 

 they will attempt to scale it; if they arrive at a 

 river, they wind along the course of the stream, 

 In their procession they are generally divided 

 into three battalions, and observe all the regu- 

 larity of an army under the guidance of an expe- 

 rienced commander. The first of these consists 

 of the strongest males, which march forward to 

 clear the route, and face the greatest dangers. 

 The main body is composed of females, which 

 are sometimes formed into columns fifty or sixty 

 yards broad, and three miles deep. The first 

 division is often obliged to halt from want of 

 rain, and the females never come from the 

 mountains till the rains have set in for some time. 

 Three or four days after these, the rear-guard 

 follows, a straggling undisciplined tribe, consist- 

 ing of males and females, but neither so robust 

 nor so vigorous as the former. 



Their marches take place chiefly in the night, 

 but if it rain during the day, they always profit by 

 it. When the sun is hot they invariably halt till 

 the evening. When terrified they run back in a 

 confused and disorderly manner, holding up and 

 clattering their nippers with a threatening atti- 

 2 u <2 



