THE PAINTED CRAB. 



591 



of their kindred, they seek the ocean when the time for laying their eggs has arrived. 

 Even then, they remain but a very short time in the water. It is, however, con- 

 jectured that the first stages of existence must be passed either in the water or under- 

 ground, as a very small Racing Crab never seems to be found. On account of the 

 great speed of these creatures, the Greeks were accustomed to designate them by a 

 name which signifies a horseman or knight. Opinion appears to be divided with 

 respect to the value of their flesh, some species being highly esteemed, while 

 others are totally rejected, and even decried as poisonous. It may b.e, however, that 

 locality has some influence in these opposite opinions, and that in some places the 

 crabs may feed on wholesome food and therefore be eaten with impunity, while in others 

 they may perforce mix with their diet certain substances injurious to human health, 

 and so become in some degree poisonous. The reader will doubtlessly remember that 

 the common edible mussel is at one time perfectly harmless, and at another is so in- 

 jurious as to cause serious effects upon the health of those who eat it, life itself having 

 been threatened by the mysterious influence. 



PAINTED CRAB.-Orapsus p/rfus. 



The ANGULAR CRAB is one of the British species, and in many respects bears some 

 resemblance to the preceding species. The eyestalks of this crab are also long and 

 movable, the carapace is wider than long, and the legs of the male are nearly five 

 times the length of the carapace ; in the female they are only twice the length. The 

 Angular Crab is taken off the southern coasts of our island, and is either dredged out 

 of rather deep water or found within the stomachs of fishes. It is a burrower, forming 

 excavations in hardened mud, and always having each extremity of the habitations 

 open. A Mediterranean variety of the same species prefers to live among rocks, and is 

 a good swimmer, frequently coming to the surface of the water, but not being known to 

 frequent the land. The claw legs are of great length, and the claws themselves are 

 large and powerful. Its name of Angular Crab is given to it in allusion to the shape 

 of the carapace. 



IN the next family, of which the PAINTED CRAB is a good example, the eyestalks are 

 very short, and the carapace is square '. The members of this family are found in nearly 



