THE SPINOSE PARTHENOPE. 



5 6 9 



The generic name Cryptopodia is derived from two Greek words signifying Hidden- 

 legs, and is an extremely appropriate title. Even the large claw-legs can be folded up 

 and tucked away so neatly under the carapace, that when the creature lies still on the 

 ground, no vestige of limbs can be seen, and it might easily be mistaken for a stone 

 thrown casually on the shore. In fact, the whole contour of this crab, whether when 

 moving or quiescent, irresistibly reminds the observer of the tortoise tribe, and bears 

 a special analogy to the box-tortoise, which has already been described and figured. 

 The eyes of this genus are very small, and, like the limbs, can be wholly retracted and 

 hidden under the shell. The Domed Crab is a native of Japan. 



THE very singular and unprepossessing crab which is here represented, belongs to 

 the typical genus of the family. At present this genus seems to be very small, the 



SPINOSE PARTHENOPE. Parthenope horrlda. 



number of known species being decidedly limited. Owing to the marine residence of 

 these creatures, and the extreme difficulty, not to say impossibility, of watching them 

 in their watery homes, the habits of these Parthenopidae are but little known, and in 

 most cases can only be conjectured from the bodily form, just as the fossil animals are 

 known to be carnivorous or herbivorous by the structure of their teeth and jaws, to be 

 swimming creatures because th_ey possess fins and paddles, or to be capable of flight 

 because they are furnished with wings. 



IN the SPINOSE PARTHENOPE, the carapace approaches to a five-sided figure, rather 

 wider than its length, moulded into a series of the oddest imaginable protuberances, 

 and covered with knobs, tubercles, and spines. The beak is sharp, short, pointed, and 

 has a strong tooth just between the antennae. The claw-legs are very large, armed, 



