BOOK IX.] History of Nature. 147 



The Crabs (Cancri 1 ) likewise, which at the same Time keep 

 close ; and both of them in the beginning of Spring cast 

 their old Coats in the manner of Snakes, and renew them 

 fresh. The others swim within the Water; but the Locustae 

 float aloft, in the manner of creeping Things. So long as 

 they feel no Fear they go straight forward, their Horns, 

 which naturally have a round Arming, being stretched out 

 towards the Sides ; but if they be in any Fear, these Horns 

 are erected, and they advance by passing from Side to Side. 

 With these Horns they contend with one another. Of all 

 Creatures this only hath no Solidity in its liquid Flesh, 

 unless it is boiled alive in scalding Water. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

 Of the Cancer, Echinus, and Echinometra. 



LOCUSTS live in rocky Places; Crabs in those which 

 are soft. In Winter they seek after Shores exposed to 

 the Sunshine : but in Summer they retire into shady 

 Places in Gullies. All of this Family decline in the Win- 

 ter; but in Autumn and Spring they grow fat; and espe- 

 cially when the Moon is full, because by Night that Star is 



1 A general name for the short-tailed crustaceans, which comprise the 

 crabs ; but individually Cancer pagurus, LINN. : The edible crab. The 

 other species are: Maja: Cancer squinado, LINN.; Maia Sq., Cuv.; some- 

 times seen on Greek coins, and supposed to be endowed with more wis- 

 dom than other crustaceans. It was sensible to the charms of music, and 

 jJElian says of the Pagurus (which, as expressing this crab, may include 

 this species), that fishermen employed the music of the Photingium to 

 allure them out of the water. Heracleoticus : Cancer granulatus, LINN. ; 

 Calappa granulata, Cuv.; Leones : Galafhcea rugosa, Cuv.; Hippce : 

 Cancer cursor, LINN. ; Ocypodb, Cuv. ; a species which comes on land by 

 day, and returns to the water at night. Belonius says, that its motions 

 are so swift, that a man cannot overtake it : it seems rather to fly than 

 run. Pinnotheres, Cuv., of two or three species : sometimes seen on Greek 

 coins, and apparently confounded by Pliny with Hermit Crabs : the 

 Paguri of Cuvier ; solely because both these sorts seek refuge in the 

 shells of Mollusks. Errors like this, which are common in ancient writers, 

 are proofs that they possessed very slight practical knowledge of Natural 

 History. Wern. Club. 



