THE LONG-BEAKED SPIDER CRAB 71 



sea-weeds and put it into an aquarium in which 

 sponges are growing", it will very soon strip 

 the weeds off its back and cover itself with 

 sponges instead ; while if you catch one that is 

 covered with sponges, and put it into a tank in 

 which sea-weeds are growing, it will strip off 

 the sponges and cover itself with sea- weeds ! 



The thornback crab often grows to a rather 

 large size. Indeed, next to the edible crab, it 

 is the largest of all the crabs which are found 

 in our British seas, for its carapace is sometimes 

 as much as eight inches long and six inches 

 wide, while its great claws may be fourteen or 

 fifteen inches in length. On some parts of the 

 coast it is used for food, but its flesh is rather 

 coarse and of poor quality. 



PLATE XXIV 

 THE LONG-BEAKED SPIDER CRAB (i) 



This crab has an even smaller body in pro- 

 portion to its size than the thornback, and its 

 legs are so very long and so very slender that 

 they remind one of those of a daddy-long-legs. 

 Its carapace is drawn out in front into a kind 

 of beak, which is quite as long as the carapace 

 itself, and while the crab is alive it is of a most 

 beautiful pink and puce colour. It is not a very 



