OF NATURAL HISTORY. ^03 



When the fun fhines, and the furface of the ground is dry, 

 they make an univerfalhalt till the evening, and then refume 

 their march. When alarmed with danger, they run back- 

 ward in a diforderly manner, and hold up their nippers in a 

 threatening pofture. They even feem to intimidate their 

 enemies ; for, when difturbed, they make a clattering noife 

 with their nippers. But, though they ende;wour to render 

 themfelves formidable to their enemies, they are cruel to each 

 other. When an individual, by any accident, is fo maimed 

 that he cannot proceed, his companions immediately devour 

 him, and then purfue their journey. After a fatiguing and 

 tedious march, which fometimes continues three months be-- 

 fore they reach the fhore, they prepare themfelves for de- 

 pofiting their fpawn. The eggs ftill remain in the bodies of 

 the animals, and are not excluded, as ufual to this genus, un- 

 der the tail. To facilitate the maturation and e;Kclufion of 

 the eggs, the land-crabs no fooner arrive on the fliore, than 

 they approach to the margin of the fea, and allow the waves to 

 pafs feveral times over their bodies. They immediately re- 

 tire to the land ; the eggs, in the mean time, come nearer 

 to maturity, and the animals once more go to the water, de- 

 pofit their eggs, and leave the event to Nature. The bunch- 

 es of fpawn are fometimes as large as a hen's egg ; and it is 

 not incurious to remark, that, at this very period, num.bers 

 of fifhes of different kinds are anxioufly waiting for this an- 

 nual fupply of food. Whether the painful migration of the 

 land-crabs, or the wonderful inflin(St of the fiflies which 

 await their arrival, in order to devour their fpav/n, is the 

 moft aftonifhing h£t, we fhall leave to the confideration^of 

 philofophers. The eggs which efcape thefe voracious fifhes 

 are hatched under the fand. Soon after, millions of minute 

 crabs are {2en leaving the fhore, and migrating flowly to- 

 ward the mountains. Mofl of the old ones, however, re- 

 •iiain in the flat parts of the country till they regain their 



