\XVII 



FK. im. . having coat the shod, now conic in with the ! f. .-i i\ . c lw 



utiiv. 



5. Specimen mutilated <>f f<mr limlm, and a pinocr of the left flaw. 



6. The ame, nfU-r exu\ i.ition, all th<- ! i'..ti\.- parts having conx- in 



entire. 



>l , im< M ii.tving been mutil u I of one claw and four limlm. cast 

 tin- shell, whii-h i.t represent* ! liv this figure. Hack. 



8. The une, caat shell. Bro&at. 



9. The specimen affording the preceding, back and breast, figs. 7, 8, 



now reproduced entire, with all the parts. 



A. 2. CANCER PAGURUS The Common Crab. Plate XXXVIII., 

 XXXIX., XL., XLI., LXX 



This is an animal so well and BO universally known as scarcely to 

 require description. Yet MTV lew ore acquainted with its real nature, 

 or are conversant with any material points of its history. 



The former species is most familiar in its earlier stages, the present 

 only in its latest growth, that is, when in maturity. The former species 

 also IB disregarded almost everywhere, it seldom serves for subsistence ; 

 but the latter is profusely consumed as food by all ranks and classes of 

 people, and in certain places only the more delicate parts preserved, 

 while the rest are thrown away, abundance rendering them of no value, 

 as already signified. 



The common crab is one of the largest of the Scotish Crustacea ; 

 nor is it inferior in other parts of Britain. Its dimensions seem entirely 

 >i 'pendent on age and the place it inhabits, attaining, according to re- 

 port, the unwieldy size of twelve inches between the limbs across the 

 back of the shell, and weighing a number of pounds But ht-rc if, in- 

 stead of twelve, specimens measure only six or seven inches, they are 

 deemed full size, and if eight, they may be accounted large. 



The dimensions of such rapacious animals must always depend on 

 the profusion of subsistence. But in calculating these dimensions, 



