276 ARTICULATA. CRUSTACEA. 



posit their spawn. This grand object of their jour- 

 ney being accomplished, they set about returning 

 in like order, guided by the same invisible but 

 unerring Hand which had directed them before. 

 From the exhausting effects of travelling, however, 

 only the most vigorous reach the mountains at one 

 effort ; many are compelled to scatter themselves 

 over the plains to recruit their strength. We have 

 already spoken of the admirable provision made for 

 the constant moistening of the gills of these animals, 

 during their long wanderings on the land. 



The Land-crabs, of which there are many species, 

 do not appear to be very nice in their choice of 

 diet. Captain Crow informs us that, in Bonny, on 

 the coast of Africa, persons are buried under the 

 floor of their own houses, and it is revolting to see 

 the Land-crabs crawling out of holes in the floor 

 from their obscene repast ; notwithstanding, they 

 are caught and eaten with relish. A negro, with 

 whom the captain remonstrated on the subject, 

 seemed to think this but a reasonable and just re- 

 taliation, a sort of payment in kind ; " Crab eat 

 black man ; black man eat he ! " 



The most common species in the West Indies 

 is the G. Ruricola, which when young is of a lively 

 blood-red colour, sometimes spotted with yellow, 

 with a deeply -marked impression of the letter H. 



Another genus, somewhat allied to these, (Grap- 

 sus,*) has been called the Soldier. They assemble 

 in great numbers, and when alarmed hurry to the 



yrapho, to write. 



