570 



THE HAIRY CRAB. 



volume. This creature is not very frequently captured, although it is far more common 

 than might be supposed from its rarity in cabinets. There seem to be few parts of the 

 British coasts where the Toothed Perimela may not be found by those who know where to 

 look for it. The zone just above low-water mark appears to be its favoured residence, and 

 it is discovered lurking very craftily among the seaweeds that fringe the rocks just at the 

 low-water line. It is a little species, and on account of its retiring propensities can easily 

 escape observation. Even on our more northern shores this creature has been captured, 

 and is to be found on the Irish as well as on the English coasts. 



TWTHKD PEHIMELA. fenmela denticulate*. 

 MONTAGU'S CRAB. Xcmtho fiMda. RED-SPOTTED /EGLE. Mgle ntjc.-punctata. 



The name of Toothed Perimela is given to this species in allusion to the shape of the 

 carapace, which has the front edge rather flattened, and cut into a series of four or five 

 strong teeth like those of a saw. The surface of the carapace is smooth, and is swollen 

 into several decided projections, something like those softly rounded hills called by the 

 French " mamelons" Over the region of the liver, the carapace is concave. 



NEAKLY allied to the preceding species is the HAIRY CEAB (Pilumnus hirtellus), a 

 creature which derives its popular name from the curious hairy covering with which it is 

 decorated. The convex carapace is studded more or less thickly with longish hairs, and 

 the four hinder pairs of legs are also protected in the same manner. This crab is not a 

 very common one, and is mostly found on the southern and western coasts of England, as 

 well as in some parts of Ireland. It seems to prefer moderately deep water, fifteen 

 fathoms being the usual depth at which it is captured. 



It may be easily known by the following characteristics. On the front edge of the 

 carapace are arranged four spines set in the same line, and the front is divided by a deep 

 notch down the middle. The claw-legs of this species are always unequal in size, and the 

 first joint of the outer pair of antennae is short. The ground-colour of the Hairy Crab 

 is chestnut brown, with a reddish tinge of greater or less intensity according to the 



