THE EDIBLE CRAB. 



573 



and in many cases is almost invisible under its load. The upper figure in the illus- 

 tration was sketched from a specimen in the British Museum, where a number of oysters 

 had affixed themselves to the shell, and consequently had been borne about with the 

 crab in all its peregrinations. 



Here I mention, that the inland naturalist will find himself greatly aided by occasional 

 visits to the fishmongers' stalls, whither a variety of marine animals are sure to make their 

 way. The general structure and anatomy of the crustacean can be admirably studied 

 by means of the crabs, lobsters, shrimps, prawns, and the, hermit-crabs which so often 

 inhabit the periwinkle shells. Adhering to oysters, scallops, and the shells of old 

 crustaceans, are numbers of molluscoids and zoophytes, while the molluscs themselves 



EDIBLE CRAB. Cancer pagurus. 



can be well studied by examining the oysters, scallops, mussels, whelks, and periwinkles. 

 Indeed, no one need deplore the lack of specimens as long as he has access to a poulterer's 

 or a fishmonger's, for he will be able to supply himself with subjects that will occupy 

 his full time in their investigations, and will fit up every hour of the longest life. 



Concerning some of the habits of this crab, Mr. Gosse has made the following interest- 

 ings observations : " At the water's edge, at the outer base of the Capstone, at low- 

 water spring-tide, I was looking about for actiniae, when, peering into a hole, I saw a fine 

 crab, not of the very largest, but still of very nice table dimensions. I poked in my arm 

 and took hold of him, and though he made vigorous efforts to hold fast the angles and 

 notches of his cave with his sharp toes, I pulled him out and carried him home. I noticed 

 that there came out with him the claw of a crab of a similar size, but quite soft, which 

 I supposed might have been either carried in there by my gentleman to eat, or accident- 

 ally washed in. 



