THE BOBBER CEAB. 331 



time without water, but also possessing the ability to 

 climb trees, which power it shares with others whose 

 form seems less adapted for such a feat. 



This Crab is found in the various islands of the 

 Indian Ocean; and is a very odd-looking creature, 

 appearing something like a compromise between a 

 lobster, a crab, and a river cray-fish. It has very long 

 and powerful legs, very large claws, and a very little 

 abdomen. 



It is almost as complete a trespasser as is the 

 whale or the dolphin, for it passes almost the whole of 

 its time upon land, and only visits the sea once in 

 twenty-four hours, when it takes a dip, and then 

 returns to its home. This home is essentially terres- 

 trial, for it consists of a deep burrow excavated by the 

 Crab, and in this retreat it passes the greater part of 

 its time. 



Most of the Crustacea are carnivorous, as is seen in 

 sea crabs, lobsters, and shrimps, which make short 

 work of a drowned sailor if they can get at him. 

 When a disfigured corpse is thrown ashore, the fishes 

 generally have the credit of the defacement, but it is 

 really due to the crabs, lobsters, and shrimps. The 

 reader is perhaps aware that " shell fish/' as they are 

 called, which are supplied by our fishmongers, have 

 been caught in traps which were baited with butcher's 

 offal. 



The Robber Crab, however, is vegetarian, and lives 

 almost entirely on cocoa-nuts. 



I have placed this Crab at the head of its kind 

 because I think it to be the most extraordinary example 

 of trespassing that can well be imagined. Let the 



