7o PORTUNIDJ3. 



undoubtedly the most common Crab of our shores. On 

 every part of the coast, it is found in numbers ; on sandy 

 beaches it is constantly left by the receding tide, concealing 

 itself under stones, and on being disturbed, either runs to 

 regain its natural shelter in the retiring sea, or hastily 

 buries itself completely in the soft sand. It is, however, 

 by no means confined to the sandy shores ; it is often 

 dredged in rather deep water, though its favourite haunt 

 is in the former situation. Such habits as these require 

 a power of remaining for a considerable time out of 

 water, and we find this to be remarkably the case with this 

 species ; it cannot, it is true, like the land Crabs, live at a 

 great distance from the sea, requiring only the moisture of 

 a humid atmosphere, to preserve their branchiae in a state 

 fit for respiration, but it will remain active for many hours, 

 and probably for days together, if it have the opportunity 

 of burying itself in sand which is wetted with sea-water : 

 differing in this respect from the more typical forms of the 

 family, which require constant immersion in deep water. 

 It will even, as Mr. Couch informs me, survive its im- 

 mersion in fresh water for several hours. 



This Crab is much eaten by the poorer classes on the 

 coast, and great numbers are also brought to the London 

 markets, the flavour being very delicate and sweet. On 

 some parts of the coast, a small black variety is found, 

 which the fishermen consider as a distinct species, distin- 

 guishing them as the black and the green crab. This variety 

 is found in deeper water, and is believed to interfere with 

 the success of their prawning, by either destroying the 

 prawns, or frightening them away from the pots. It is 

 certainly merely a variety. 



Its food consists principally of the fry of fish, of shrimps, 

 and other Crustacea, but it will also feed upon dead 



