130 UTILIZATION OP MINUTE LIFE. 



These crabs are sometimes called Violet crabs. 

 They live upon leaves, rotten wood, fruits, etc. 

 They are considered delicious food in the countries 

 where they abound, especially during the time of 

 moulting. In the Carribbee Islands they form a 

 very important element of nutrition. 



The elegant writer, Bernardin de St. Pierre, in 

 his "Etudes de la Nature," speaks of these land 

 crabs thus : 



"II y a des animaux qui ne voyagent que la 

 nuit. Des millions de crabes descendent aux Antilles 

 des montagnes a la clarte de la lune en faisant 

 sonner leurs tenailles,* et offrent aux Caraibes, sur 

 les greves steriles de leurs iles, leurs ecailles rem- 

 plies de moelles exquises." 



The Birgus latro, or robber crab (Fig. 12), is 

 another terrestrial species, and is sought for as 

 food in certain countries. It is remarkable for the 

 manner in which it climbs trees, to feed upon their 

 fruit. The crabs of this species bore a hole at the 

 feet of trees in Amboyna and other islands in the 

 South Pacific Ocean. The naturalist Herbst appears 



* Buffon says, that " to intimidate their enemies, they often 

 make a clattering noise with their claws during their march." 

 Their nippers are very strong, and a crab of this species loses its 

 claw rather than let go its grasp. One of them may be often seen 

 making off, having left its claw still holding fast upon the enemy. 

 The faithful claw seems to perform its duty to the utmost for 

 upwards of a minute after its owner has retired. 



