THE SHORE CRAB 65 



round and round too, so as to keep facing you, 

 over and over and over again. And if you put 

 your hand anywhere near him he will snap at it 

 so quickly that it is really not at all easy to avoid 

 his stroke. 



Edible crabs often have their shells covered 

 with barnacles and the tubes of some of the sea- 

 worms. Old crabs, indeed, which no longer 

 change their coats of mail every year, are often 

 so covered with these creatures that one can 

 hardly see their shells at all. 



PLATE XXII 



THE SHORE CRAB (i) 



This is sometimes known as the Green Crab, 

 because it is generally more or less green in 

 colour. But you may often find examples, which 

 are deep brown all over, while others are bright 

 yellow, with black markings upon their backs. 

 It does not grow to nearly such a great size 

 as the edible crab, and although its flesh is quite 

 good to eat there is so little of it that the animal 

 is hardly ever used for food. But it is wonder- 

 fully strong, and if you find a green crab hiding 

 beneath a big stone or behind a mass of sea- 

 weed, you must be very careful not to get a nip 



from its claws. 



E 



