THE EACING CEAB. 589 



"What may be the real reason for this strange habit is not quite clear, for though the 

 Pea-crab will live in the same shell without indicting any apparent injury to its host, it is 

 yet very fond of mussel-flesh, and will eat it with much eagerness. Indeed, several 

 specimens have been kept alive for more than a year by being fed upon that diet. 

 Perhaps it may feed upon the juice and less important parts of the mollusc, just as the 

 ichneumon larva feeds on the juices of the caterpillar. Sometimes two and even, three 

 specimens are found within a single shell, and on examining the mussels taken from an 

 old bank where they have been permitted to rest quietly, almost every shell will, contain 

 one specimen of the Pea-crab. 



The colour of the Pea-crab is reddish cream colour, and the dimensions are small, the 

 specimens being shown of their natural size. The average diameter is half an inch. It 

 is a very timid creature, as might be inferred from the remarkably retired spot in which 

 it passes its life ; and when it is alarmed, it contracts its limbs and pretends to be dead, 

 remaining motionless for a very long space of time, and not moving until it feels sure 

 that its enemy is out of the way. 



On the right hand of the illustration is seen the LONG-AHMED MYCTIKIS, an example of 

 a moderately large family of crustaceans, all of which inhabit the warm seas, and are most 

 plentiful under the tropics. In this genus the carapace is very delicate, convex, and 

 somewhat circular in form ; the limbs are long and slender. In the present species the 

 carapace is curiously divided by two longitudinal furrows into three convex protuberances, 

 and projects slightly in front. The claw-feet are long and armed with pincers that are 

 very powerful in proportion to the dimensions of the animal. It is a native of the 

 Australian seas, and the specimen from which the illustration is sketched, was captured 

 off the coast of New Holland. It is represented of the natural size. 



WE now arrive at another family, called the Ocypodidse, or Swift-footed Crabs, from 

 their extraordinary speed, which equals or even exceeds that of a man. 



The upper figure in the engraving represents the FIGHTING GRAB, a creature whose 

 name is well deserved. As the reader may observe, one of its claws is enormously large 

 in proportion to the body, being indeed, nearly equal in dimensions to the whole carapace, 

 while the other claw is quite small and feeble. It is remarkable that sometimes the right 

 and sometimes the left claw is thus developed. This animal is a most determined fighter, 

 and has the art of disposing its limbs like the arms of a boxer, so as to be equally ready 

 for attack or defence. The figure shows the crab in its posture of defence. 



The Fighting Crab lives on the sea-shore or on the border of salt marshes, and burrows 

 deeply in the earth, the holes being tolerably cylindrical and rather oblique in direction. 

 In some places these holes are so close together that the earth is quite honeycombed with 

 them, and the place looks like a rabbit-warren. Each burrow is tenanted by a pair of 

 crabs, the male always remaining in the post of danger at the mouth of the tunnel, and 

 keeping guard with his great claw at the entrance. 



While running, it has a habit of holding the large claw aloft, and moving it as if 

 beckoning to some one a habit which has caused one of the species to be named the 

 Calling Crab. This action has in it something very ludicrous, and those who have 

 watched the proceedings of a crab-warren say that there are few scenes more ridiculous 

 than that which is presented by the crustaceans when they are alarmed and go scuttling 

 over the ground to their homes, holding up their claws and beckoning in all directions. 

 The generic name is derived from a Greek word signifying laughter, and is given to the 

 crabs because no one can look at them without laughing. These crustaceans possess 

 very long footstalks on which their eyes are placed, but, as has already been mentioned, 

 the second joint of the footstalk is long and the first is short. 



CLOSELY allied to these creatures is the EACING CEAB (Ocypode, cursor), sometimes 

 called the Sand-crab, from its habit of burrowing in the sand. Sir J. Emerson Tennent, 

 in his " Natural History of Ceylon," writes as follows of this crab : " In the same 

 localities, or a little inland, the Ocypode burrows in the dry soil, making deep excavations, 

 bringing up literally armfuls of sand, which, with a spring in the air, and employing its 

 other limbs, it jerks far from its burrows, distributing it in a circle to the distance of 



