588 



THE PEA-CRAB. 



ANOTHER family of land-crabs is well represented by the TOULOUROU BLACK CRAB, 01 

 VIOLET CRAB of Jamaica ( Gecdrcinus ruricola). 



This singular creature is found in vast numbers, and for the most part lives in burrows 

 at least a mile from the shore, and sometimes at a distance of two or even three miles, 

 seldom indeed visiting the sea but for the purpose of depositing its eggs. About the 

 months of December and January the eggs begin to form, and the crab is then fat, delicate, 

 and in good condition for the table. In May, however, it is quite poor and without 

 flavour, and does not recover its proper condition until it has visited the sea, deposited the 

 eggs, and returned to its home About July or August the Violet Crab is again fat and in 

 full flesh, having in fact laid in a stock of fat which will afford it sufficient nourishment 

 through the time in which it remains in a torpid state. It retires to the bottom of its 

 burrow, into which it has previously conveyed a large amount of grass, leaves, and similar 

 materials, closes the entrance, and there remains until the next year. 



It is a very quick and active creature, scuttling off to its hole with astonishing 

 rapidity, and is not to be captured without the exercise of considerable skill and 

 quickness. Nor must it be handled without caution, for as it runs, it holds up its claws 

 ready to bite, and if it succeeds in grasping its foe, it quickly throws off the limb which 

 continues to gripe and pinch as sharply as if still attached to its former owner and 

 makes good its escape while the claw is being detached. For the table, this crab is 

 esteemed as one of the greatest delicacies, and is treated in various modes, sometimes 

 stewed, but mostly cooked in its own shell. 



PEA-CKAB. f innotlwres yisuin* 



LONG-ARMED MYCTIlUS.-Af^trw iungicarpus. 



THE figures in the accompanying illustration are examples of two families of 

 crustaceans. 



The two smaller figures represent the PEA-CRAB, a curious little Crustacea that is found 

 within the shells of the horse-mussel and one or two other bivalves. That this crab was 

 a frequent inhabitant of the pinna was a fact well known to the ancient naturalists, who 

 put forward a number of ingenious but rather fabulous theories to account for the singular 

 alliance. By some writers it was said that the Pea-crab supplied the place of eyes to the 

 blind pinna, and that its especial task was to warn it of the approach of the polypus or 

 cuttle-fish, receiving board and lodging as a reward of its labours. Some thought that the 

 1'ea-crab performed the office which ancient tradition attributed to the jackal, and was 

 sent out by the mollusc for the purpose ol obtaining food, the host and guest dividing 

 the spoil. 



