Y. CRUSTACEANS. 



221. THE CRABS. 



Tin: Fmni.Kit CRABS GEL ASIMUS PUGNAX, Smith; GELABIMUS PUGILATOR, Latreille; GELASI- 



MUS MINAX, Le Contc. 



Three species of Fiddler Crabs occur upon the Atlantic const of the United States, and nre 

 frequently ut Mixed as liait. Congregating together in immense numbers, as they often do, and 

 excavating their holes generally in convenient localities, above the reach of the tides, they might 

 In- easily collected in large quantities, were they better appreciated by the fishermen. Most 

 dwellers upon the sea-shore are acquainted with that peculiarity of the Fiddler Crabs which has 

 given to them their common name, and by which they are readily distinguished from our other 

 Crabs. The males are provided with two very unequal claws, one being of large, the other of 

 quite small sixe. in comparison with the size of the animal. Of these, the larger claw has been 

 likened to a fiddle and the smaller one to a bow; hence the derivation of the name. The claws of 

 the females are, however, of equal ami small size. 



The three species mentioned as living upon the Atlantic coast are Geltuimus minax, Q. 

 ptigniu; and G.piti/ihitnr. The former species, which is the largest, ranges from the southern coast 

 of New Kii^land to Florida, and lives upon salt marshes, usually farther from the sea than the 

 others, and frequently where the water is nearly fresh. G. piiynajr ranges from Cape Cod to 

 Florida, and also occurs in the (lull of Mexico and ninong the West Indies. "It makes its 

 burrows only upon salt marshes, I ut is often seen in great companies wandering out upon muddy 

 or sandy flats, or even upon the benches of the bays and sounds." G. puyilator ranges from Cape 

 Cod to Florida, upon muddy and sandy flats and beaches. Professor Verrill describes the habits 

 and characteristics of these species as follows: ' 



"We find several species of Crabs burrowing in muddy banks along the shores of the 

 estuaries, as well as along banks of the streams and ditches of the salt marshes. The most 

 abundant of these is the marsh Fiddler Crab, Gtlaaimus jrugnax, which is often so abundant that 

 the banks are completely honeycombed and undermined by them. These holes are of various 

 sizes up to about three-quarters of an inch in diameter, and descend more or less (>erpendicularly, 

 often to the depth of two feet or more. Occasionally in summer these Crabs will leave their holes 

 and scatter over the surface of the marshes, which at times seem to be perfectly alive with them, 

 but when disturbed they will scamper away in every direction and speedily retreat to their holes; 

 but occasionally, at least, they do not find their own, for sometimes the rightful owner will be seen 

 forcibly ejecting several intruders. It is probable that at such times of general retreat each one 

 gets into the first hole that he can find. Associated with this ' Fiddler,' another related Crab, the 

 Semrma reticulata, is occasionally found in considerable numbers. This is a stout-looking, reddish- 

 brown crab, with a squarish carapax ; its large claws are stout and nearly equal in both sexes, 

 instead of being very unequal, as in the male ' Fiddlers.' It lives in holes like the Fiddlers,' 



'Heport upon the Invertebrate Animals of Vineyard Sound, etc., in Keport United States Fish Commissioner for 

 1P71-'T2, pp. 336, 466. 



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