549 NATURALISTS CABINET. 



How canght Dr. Darwin's remarks; 



they throw themselves on their back, and with 

 their claws pinch most dreadfully whatever they 

 happen to fasten on ; but the dextrous crab- 

 catcher seizes them by the hinder legs in such 

 a manner that the nippers cannot touch him. 

 They are also caught in their holes by the sea 

 side, by so fixing a stick as to prevent their 

 escaping, and soon afterwards the tide enters the 

 holes, and the animals are drowned. Wafer says 

 that the inhabitants of some of the Caribbee 

 islands, when they have caught them, put them 

 for three days into a piece of potatoe ground, 

 in order to render them more firm, and better 

 eating. 



The black-clawed, or eatable crab, is found on 

 the rocky coasts both of Europe and India ; and 

 is the same that is introduced to our tables, being 

 in greater esteem as food than many others of 

 the tribe. These animals are remarkable for their 

 changing their shells and broken claws. The 

 former is done once a year, and that usually 

 between Christmas and Easter. During the 

 operation they retire among the cavities of rocks 

 and under great stones ; and Dr. Darwin says, 

 (from the authority of a friend who had Leeu 

 engaged in surveying the sea coasts,) that a hard- 

 shelled crab always stands sentinel to prevent the 

 sea insects from injuring the rest in their defence- 

 less state; and that, from his appearance, the 

 fishermen know where to find the soft ones, which 

 they use for baits in catching fish ; adding that. 



