THE TAINTED CKAB. 



591 



of their kindred, they seek the ocean when the time for laying their eggs has arrived. 

 Even then, they remain but a very short time in the water. It is, however, con- 

 jectured that the first stages of existence must be passed either in the water or under- 

 ground, as a very small Eacing Crab never seems to be found. On account of the great 

 speed of these creatures, the Greeks were accustomed to designate them by a name which 

 signifies a horseman or knight. Opinion appears to be divided with respect to the value 

 of their flesh, some species being highly esteemed, while others are totally rejected, and 

 even decried as poisonous. It may be, however, that locality has some influence in these 

 opposite opinions, and that in some places the crabs may feed on wholesome food and 

 therefore be eaten with impunity, while in others they may perforce mix with their diet 

 certain substances injurious to human health, and so become in some degree poisonous. 

 The reader will doubtlessly remember that the common- edible mussel is at one time 

 perfectly harmless, and at another is so injurious as to catise serious effects upon the 

 health of those who eat it, life itself having been threatened by the mysterious influence 



PAINTED CUAli Grapxus 



The ANGULAR CRAB is one of the British species, and in many respects bears some 

 resemblance to the preceding species. The eyestalks of this crab are also long and 

 movable, the carapace is wider than long, and the legs of the male are nearly five times 

 the length of the carapace ; in the female they are only twice the length. The Angular 

 (Jrab is taken off the southern coasts of our island, and is either dredged out of rather deep 

 water or found within the stomachs of fishes. It is a burrower, forming excavations in 

 hardened mud, and always having each extremity of the habitation open. A Mediterranean 

 variety of the same species prefers to live among rocks, and is a good swimmer, frequently 

 coming to the surface of the water, but not being known to frequent the land. The claw 

 legs are of great length, and the claws themselves are large and powerful. Its name of 

 Angular Crab is given to it in allusion to t-he shape of the carapace. 



IN the next family, of which the PAINTED CRAB is a good example, the eyestalks are 

 very short, and the carapace is squared. The members of this family are found in nearly 



