566 



THE CRIOCARCINUS. 



the many wondrous examples of the care with which every creature is fed and every 

 atom is utilized, that some twenty or thirty thousand tiny mouths should always ac- 

 company the crab for the purpose of feeding on the little morsels that are dispersed 

 vaguely into the water as the crab tugs and pulls at the abundant feast. 



There is something inexpressibly ludicrous in the action of this animal as it feeds 

 itself. Although every one who is acquainted with the anatomy of the crustaceans knows 

 well the position of the mouth, it is impossible to get over the feelings of ridicule which 

 are raised by the sight of the animal feeding itself by pushing food into its chest. The 

 steady business-like manner of its proceeding adds to the absurdity, and the gravest 

 observer cannot repress a hearty laugh when he sees a Spider-crab busy at its 

 meal. The ancients were well acquainted with the form of this crab, and held it in 

 great respect, though from erroneous ideas, supposing it to be a peculiarly wise creature, 

 and susceptible of the charms of music. 



RAWS-HORN CRAB. Criocarcinus supercillosus. THORN-CLAW CRAB. Acantbonyx zebrlda. 



THE curious creature which is represented at the lower right-hand corner of the illus- 

 tration is the THREE-SPINED SPIDER-CRAB, so called from the peculiar shape of the body, 

 which, on account of the projecting beak and the strange modification of the carapace, 

 has a kind of three-cornered aspect. Several species of this genus are known, and are 

 found in the West Indian seas and off the Philippines. The present species is one of the 

 most common, and is found in the West Indies. 



SOME remarkable examples of this family are to be found in the two species which are 

 figured in the illustration. The larger specimen is the CRIOCARCINUS, a species which can 

 be easily distinguished by the two long horn-like projections from the snout. The generic 

 name, which is of Greek origin, and signifies Ram-crab, is given to the animal on account 



