88 NATURAL HISTORY. 



The Sea Crab (portunas maenas) has a hard corselet 

 on the breast, which is somewhat rounded, and causes it 

 to resemble a spider rather than a crab ; the length is two 

 inches, the breadth the same ; the tail is very short, and 

 the whole of the body, of a grayish-green color, is rather 

 square than oval. The portunas are found on all the 

 coasts of Europe, where they live under stones. If any 

 one approaches, they run off quickly and hide themselves 

 in the mud ; their motion is mostly sidewise. The flesh 

 is esteemed best when the shell is molted. 



The Pocket Crab (cancer pagurus) is about a span 

 in length and breadth ; of a yellowish color with black 

 claws ; it lives alone ; is common on the sea coasts of 

 Europe, and is the most highly esteemed of the crab 

 race. The upper shell is removed, like that of the oys- 

 ster, and the marrow-like flesh eaten in the same way. 



Resembling it is 



The Spider Crab or Sea Spider (major squinato), 

 which is four inches long, and three broad, full of horny 

 knobs, and having the head armed with a few spines. 



The Common Land Crab (gecarsinus ruricola), about 

 the size of a hand, is dark red. spotted with yellow, and 

 is very abundant in South America. These crabs are 

 essentially terrestrial, living, sometimes, a considerable 

 distance from the sea-shore, to which they make an 

 annual journey in order to deposit their eggs. "When 

 about to molt their shells, they make holes in the 

 earth, which they cover at the mouth with leaves and 

 dirt, leaving only one small opening for entrance. Here 

 they remain, seemingly immovable, until the shell is 

 thrown off. When these animals are in danger of being 

 taken, they retreat to their hiding places with great 

 rapidity, and defend themselves stoutly with their nip- 



