574 



THE EDIBLE CRAB. 



After I had got him out for it was a male I looked in and saw another at the bottom 

 of the hole, which appeared to me considerably smaller. I debated whether I should 

 essay this one also, but reflected that I could only eat one at a supper, and that modera- 

 tion in luxuries is becoming. ' So,' said I, ' friend crab, I may find you here again on 

 some other auspicious morning.' When I arrived at home, however, I discovered that 

 I had left my pocket-knife at the mouth of the crab-hole. I felt loth to part with my old 

 knife, and therefore at once put on my hat, running hard, for fear the tide, which had 

 already turned, might be too high. I got to the place, however, just in time, found my 

 knife, and then took another peep at the crab. It had not moved, and thinking that if 

 I could not eat it myself, I might ask my neighbor's acceptance of it, I drew it out with 

 my fingers, as I had done with the former. 



/Bthra scruposa. 



But lo ! it was a soft crab, the shell being of the consistency of wet parchment, and 

 the colors, all except those of the carapace, being pale. It was a female, too, without 

 any sign of spawn, and had lost one claw. Strange that I had not thought of connect- 

 ing the soft claw that I had drawn out before with this crab that I saw at the bottom ; 

 but I carefully put the helpless creature into the hole again, and saw that it had settled 

 its legs and body comfortably in its old quarters ; and there I left it. ... 



What, then, are we to infer from this association ? Do the common crabs live in pairs, 

 and does one keep guard at the mouth of their cavern while its consort is undergoing its 

 change of skin ? If this is the case, it is a pretty trait of cancerine sagacity, and one not 

 unworthy of their acute instinct and sagacity in other respects. The male displayed no 

 appearance of the moult, its coat being of a shelly hardness. I have no doubt that the 



