GREEN CRAB. Cdrcinut mamas. 



and taking advantage of a moment when the larger crab was withdrawing from the field 

 from some temporary emotion of alarm, he rapidly seized the long-disputed arenicola, and 

 carried it for safety to some distance from the water's edge, where he might devour it at 

 his ease on dry land." 



No one who has not seen these animals while searching after food, can have any idea 

 of the energy and fiery activity which they display. My own observations are slightly 

 opposed to those which have just been quoted, for, instead of finding the young 

 crabs to be the most venturesome, I have always noticed that they are the most 

 timorous, as indeed they have good reason to be, scuttling off in all haste as soon as a 

 larger relative makes his appearance, and hiding themselves in the first convenient 

 cranny. Once I saw a very exciting race between a large and a small Green Crab, the 

 latter succeeding in making good its escape by the simple plan of getting behind some 

 sea-weed, and then darting under a dry stalk that was lying on the sand. The large crabs 

 are the most audacious, I suppose, because they have so long been accustomed to rule, 

 that they cannot conceive themselves in an inferior position. No sooner does a foe 

 present himself, than the crab turns defiantly on him, elevates itself on its tail, and holds 

 its claws threateningly in the air, like a boxer in pugilistic attitude. Nor does the 

 creature put forward any groundless menace, for it will bite with terrible severity, and 

 if a hand be placed near it, will strike with astonishing fury. To capture such a crab 

 with the bare hand is no easy matter, and requires some little address. 



This species has conferred a great benefit on science, as affording the specimens T/hich 

 set at rest the theory of its development, and proved not only that the crustaceans pass 

 through a series of metamorDhoses, but that certain supposed species of the lower 



