THE LAND CRAB. 333 



Nor is this all. In its burrow, the Crab requires a 

 bed in order to be comfortable, and this bed it pro- 

 cures by taking the outer covering of the nut, tearing 

 it into fibres, and carrying it in bundles into its 

 burrow. The amount of this fibre which a single Crab 

 will thus stow away is so great that the Malay sailors 

 are in the habit of robbing them in order to obtain 

 material for caulking the seams of their vessels. 



As may be supposed from the strength which is 

 needed in tearing up the outer cover of the nut and 

 breaking the shell, the Ecbber Crab is a large species. 

 When full grown it is about two feet in length, and 

 when it walks it stands a full foot from the ground. 

 The flesh of these Crabs is considered to be excellent. 



The reader may probably be aware that there are 

 many species of Crab which go under the collective 

 name of "Land Crab," because, like the preceding 

 species, they pass the greater part of their time on 

 land, only visiting the water at intervals for the pur- 

 pose of moistening the gills. Some of them are so 

 remarkable for their speed when on shore, that they 

 have gained the name of Eacer Crabs. They can 

 easily beat a man on foot, and to capture one of these 

 creatures is a most difficult task, requiring the assist- 

 ance of several persons, who drive it backwards and 

 forwards until it is tired. Being gifted with this 

 speed of limb, they think nothing of a long journey, 

 and accordingly make their habitations at a consider- 

 able distance from the sea. In a favourable spot, the 

 earth will be absolutely riddled with their burrows, 

 even though the spot be several miles from the sea. 



