60 



CANCERID^E. 



the last lobe inconspicuous, and passing into the posterior 

 marginal line, which terminates immediately anterior to 

 the posterior marginal ridge. The front trifid, the teeth 

 nearly equal. The orbits are round, with a strong trian- 

 gular tooth over the inner canthus, which does not project 

 as far as the front, and a smaller one between the two 

 superior fissures. The external antennae have the basal 

 joint much elongated, and terminating forwards in an ob- 

 tuse tooth ; the first joint of the moveable portion club- 

 shaped, the second cylindrical. The internal antenna^ 

 stand forwards, the anterior half being folded directly 

 backwards when at rest. The sternum minutely punc- 

 tated, and furnished with small patches and lines of short 

 scanty hair. The abdomen in the male, has the margin 

 fringed with short hair, and the surface with numerous 

 small tufts of short stiff hair; the last joint forming an 

 equilateral triangle : in the female the sixth joint is very 

 large, the terminal one triangular, the sides slightly sinu- 

 ated. The anterior pair of feet large, robust, smooth, 

 without spines or tubercles, minutely granulated ; the hand 

 rounded, without any ridge ; the fingers with strong round- 

 ed teeth. The remaining feet slightly compressed, irre- 

 gularly angular, and furnished with numerous bundles of 

 stiff hairs. 



The colour above reddish brown, in younger individuals 

 with a purplish tint ; the legs more red ; the claws black ; 

 beneath nearly white. 



There can be little doubt that this species was the one 

 known to the Romans by the name of carabus, from 

 whence our common name crab.* Pliny, in enumerating 



* The common name of the wild apple has probably no reference to the animal ; 

 it is, doubtless, as Skinner has it, from schrabfon, A. s., to scrape, to bite, from the 

 harsh, rough taste of the fruit. 



