THE EDIBLE CRAR S7l 



dissimilar animals performed the same feat was so closely alike as to create an agreeable 

 feeling of surprise." 



The same writer then proceeds to draw analogies with other members of the animal 

 kingdom, such as the spider-monkeys, the sloths, the long-legged beetles, and the spiders, 

 for the purpose of showing that elongated limbs are mostly given to creatures that may 

 be reckoned among the climbers. 



The tubercles with which the body of this crab is so profusely studded are of a pink 

 color, and are terminated by a little knob either of red or white, but always highly 

 polished. The ground color is white, so that the creature presents a very pleasing 

 contrast of colors. It is generally reckoned among the rarer British crustaceans, though 

 perhaps without sufficient reason, as the depth of sea in which it resides renders it 

 no very easy capture, and it is also accustomed to conceal its beautiful carapace under 

 a coating of mud and small seaweeds, so that even when brought up in the dredge it 

 might escape observation. 



ON the left hand of the same illustration is seen a figure of the SPINE-ARMED LAMBRUS, 

 a member of a moderately large genus, inhabiting the Mediterranean and the warmer 

 seas of the world in general. The specimen from which the drawing is taken was 

 captured in the Mauritius. In many respects the genus Lambrus resembles the par- 

 thenope, but is distinguishable by having one plate fewer in the abdomen, and in the 

 manner in which the antennae are jointed. The eyes of this Spine-armed Lambrus are 

 retractile and placed on footstalks of an elaborate and curious construction. 



THE large family of the Canceridae now comes before us, and is familiarly known 

 through the medium of the common EDIBLE CRAB. 



This is a very common species, being plentiful around our rocky coasts, and generally 

 remaining in the zone just under low-water mark. The fishermen catch it in various 

 ways ; but the most usual method, and that by which the greatest number of these crus- 

 taceans are captured, is by means of certain baskets, called crab-pots, cruives, or creels, 

 according to the locality. These baskets are round, and in shape something like a 

 flattened apple, and have an aperture at the top through which the crab gains access to 

 the interior. When once within the basket, it cannot escape, because the opening is 

 guarded by an inverted cone of osiers, like the entrance to a common wire mouse-trap, so 

 that the elastic sticks yield to the expected prey while passing downwards, but effectually 

 prevent all upward movement. 



Supplied with a number of these creels, a corresponding amount of rope, floats, stones, 

 and bait, the fisherman rows towards the best grounds, which are always where the bed of 

 the sea is rocky, and the depth from three to twenty fathoms. The bait, consisting of 

 haddock, skate, and other fish, is placed in the basket, together with a few stones, which 

 serve to sink it, a line is attached, and the creel lowered out of the boat. A buoy is 

 attached to the line and marked with the owner's name, so as to avoid mistakes as to the 

 proprietorship of the creel. The fisherman then rows to a little distance, and sinks 

 another baited creel, taking the precaution to place them so far asunder that the lines 

 cannot be entangled in each other. It is worthy of notice that the bait must be perfectly 

 fresh, or the crab will have nothing to do with it, while that for the lobster may be quite 

 putrid. The fisherman, therefore, thriftily saves the overplus bait, and when it begins 

 to be tainted, and will entice no crabs into the creels, uses it to catch lobsters. 



Boys often employ their idle afternoons in crab hunting, always going among the 

 rocks at low-water, and looking out for those rock masses that are covered with heavy 

 seaweeds. They are armed with a kind of lance consisting of an iron hook fastened to a 

 long stick, and with this they poke about in the crevices under the rocks, and twist out 

 the crabs that have concealed themselves. These crabs, however, seldom attain any 

 great size, the larger specimens remaining in the deeper water. The boys call them 

 "pungers" to distinguish them from the green crab, which is hardly eatable. 



It is fortunate for these creatures, that though they are terribly carnivorous in their 

 habits, fierce and voracious as the tiger and cannibals withal, the sense of pain is but 



