THE GREEN CRAB. 581 



had tasted and taking advantage of a moment when the larger crab was withdrawing 

 from the field from some temporary emotion of alarm, he rapidly seized the long-dis- 

 puted arenicola, and carried it for safety to some distance from the water's edge, where 

 he might devour it at his ease on dry land." 



No one who has not seen these animals while searching after food, can have any idea 

 of the energy and fiery activity which they display. My own observations are slightly 

 opposed to those which have just been quoted, for, instead of finding the young crabs 

 to be the most venturesome, I have always noticed that they are the most timorous, as 

 indeed they have good reason to be, scuttling off in all haste as soon as a larger relative 

 makes his appearance, and hiding themselves in the first convenient cranny. Once I 

 saw a very exciting race between a large and a small Green Crab, the latter succeeding 

 in making good its escape by the simple plan of getting behind some sea-weed, and 



GREEN CRAB. Carclaus maeaas. 



then darting under a dry stalk that was lying on the sand. The large crabs are the 

 most audacious, I suppose, because they have so long been accustomed to rule, that 

 they cannot conceive themselves in an inferior position. No sooner does a foe present 

 himself, than the crab turns defiantly on him, elevates itself on its tail, and holds its 

 claws threateningly in the air, like a boxer in pugilistic attitude. Nor does the crea- 

 ture put forward any groundless menace, for it will bite with terrible severity, and if a 

 hand be placed near it, will strike with astonishing fury. To capture such a crab with 

 the bare hand is no easy matter, and requires some little address. 



This species has conferred a great benefit on science, as affording the specimens 

 which set at rest the theory of its development, and proved not only that the crustaceans 

 pass through a series of metamorphoses, but that certain supposed species of the 



