PORCUPINE-CRAB. LitlioiUx Hyttrix. 



of the hedgehog. It appears to be rather dull and sluggish in its movements, crawling 

 along the bed of the sea with slow monotonous action. 



One species of this genus, the NOETHEKN STONE-CEAB {Lithodes Maia), is found off the 

 coasts of England, and is plentiful on many of the Scottish shores. It is covered with 

 short thick spines which extend over its legs and claws, and in its general shape bears 

 some resemblance to the spider-crabs already described. In spite, however, of its thorn- 

 studded surface, it is much eaten by fishes, and is not unfrequently found entire in the 

 stomachs of the fish that are taken off our coasts. 



The Northern Stone-crab may be known by its very long beak furnished at the end 

 with two short and rather diverging teeth, and by its bright scarlet colour when it is first 

 taken from the water. The Porcupine-crab, which has the characteristics of its genus 

 almost exaggerated, is found in Japan. 



THE last of the Homolidee is the strange and uncouth-looking creature which is shown 

 in the accompanying illustration, and called the NODULED CEAB on account of its singular 

 conformation. 



This crustacean, instead of being covered with thorny points as in the stone-crabs, 

 has its entire carapace, limbs, and claws so studded with tubercles, that it can scarcely 

 be recognised as a living creature, and looks more like a rough stone encrusted with 

 marine growths. The carapace is rather triangular in form, but its sides are so scooped 

 into hollows and.projections, its surface so moulded into elevations and depressions, and 

 its shell so covered with tubercles of various shapes and sizes, that its true proportions 

 are riot easily distinguished. 



