47 



CHAPTER IV. 



B URRO WING IN VER TEBRA TES. 



CRUSTACEA. 



The Land Crabs and their habits - The Violet Land Crab— Its burrows, 

 its combativeness, and its pedestrian powers — The Fighting Crab, why so 

 called — The Racer Crab of Ceylon — Its burrows and mode of carrying off 

 the soil— The Robber Crab— Its form and general habits— Food of the 

 Robber Crab— A soft bed, and well-stocked larder— The Chelura, and 

 its ravages among timber— The Gribble and its kin. 



The reader will doubtless perceive that among such a multitude 

 of mamnnals and birds, each of which has some habitation, it is 

 impossible to give more than a selection of some of the more 

 remarkable examples. Although, therefore, there are many other 

 burrowing and semi-burrowing vertebrates, we must leave the 

 furred, feathered, and scaled tribes, and pass to those which 

 occupy a lower place in the animal kingdom. 



Among the Crustacea, there are very many species which form 

 burrows, and which conceal themselves under the sand or mud. 

 As, however, these creatures cannot be said to form their habita- 

 tions, and the burrows are mostly obliterated by the return of the 

 water, they can scarcely be reckoned among those which make 

 'homes without hands.' Some, however, there are which are as 

 fully entitled to be ranked among the true burro wers, as any 

 creature which we have mentioned, digging a regular burrow in 

 the earth, residing in their subterranean home, issuing forth to 

 procure food, and retiring to it when alarmed. These are the crea- 

 tures so widely famous as Land Crabs {Gecai'cinjis)^ respecting 

 which so many wonderful tales are told, some true, some false, 

 and many exaggerated. The Land Crabs are found in various 

 parts of the world, and are notable for very similar habits. They 



