THE BRASSY CRAB. 



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individual. The legs are dusty red, relieved by a series of bands of a grayish yellow 

 color. 



IN many characteristics, the genus Zozymus resembles the genus ^Egle so closely, that 

 the two genera have been blended together by several systematic zoologists. 



As a general fact, it is much to be wished that the modern fashion of breaking up the 

 old and established genera into a host of new ones, many of which contain but a single 

 species, had not proved so fascinating to the authors. In many cases, the characteristics 

 employed as generic differences are so very trifling, that they are barely of sufficient 

 importance for the establishment of a species. New families also have been invented 

 with reckless profusion, and in many instances, known to every naturalist, the charac- 



BRASSY CRAB. Zozymus /Eneus. 



teristics on which the family is founded serve equally for the genus and the species. Need- 

 ful as is some definite system of nomenclature, and admirable as is the system which 

 Linnaeus founded, and which has since formed the basis of all arrangement, it can be 

 pushed too far, and, as is well known to be the case, is so widely abused that merely to 

 learn the multitude of sesquipedalian titles with which the study of zoology is now 

 encumbered, requires a greater exercise of memory than to study the habits and peculiari- 

 ties of structures which alone form the true objects of zoological science. 



The general shape of the BRASSY CRAB can be seen by reference to the engraving, as 

 well as the curious protuberances into which the carapace is moulded, and which cover 

 the claws and legs. The sketch is taken of the natural size of an ordinary specimen, and 

 the original was captured off the Mauritius. Only three or four species are ranked under 

 this genus and all of them are natives of the Mauritius or the Philippines. 

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