78 MAIA SQUINADO. 



have seen hundreds of all sizes hiding beneath the 

 rocks at low tide. Its scientific name is Hyas ara- 

 neus,})ui it is better known as one of the Spider-Crabs. 

 It claims close relationship with that noted crustaceous 

 sanitory reformer, Maia squinado. Although this 

 H. araneus is a somewhat pleasant fellow when you 

 get thoroughly acquainted with his eccentricities, ap- 

 pearances are sadly against him at starting. Speak- 

 ing with due caution and in the gentlest manner 

 possible, consistent with truth, I must say that this 

 crab is, without exception, one of the dirtiest-look- 

 ing animals I have ever met with in my zoological 

 researches. At a by no means hasty glance, he ap- 

 pears to be miraculously built up of mud, hair, and 

 grit on every part, except his claws, which are long 

 and sharp as those of any bird of prey. 



The first specimen I ever saw, seemed as if he had 

 been dipped in a gum pot, and then soused over 

 head and ears in short-cut hair and filth. 



The second specimen, although equally grimy, had 

 some redeeming points in his personal appearance, 

 for at intervals every part of his back and claws 

 were covered with small frondlets of ulva, dulse, 

 D. sanguined, and other beautiful weeds, all of 

 which were in a healthy condition. After keeping 

 him in a vase for a week, he managed, much against 

 my wish, to strip himself of the greater part of these 

 novel excrescences. 



Instead of minute algse, we read that these crabs 



