66 GENUS lupa: 



Granules of the thorax scattered unequally, obsolete 

 behind, arranged in four lines, two dorsal, and one on each 

 side at the elongated tooth; Cijpeus with two equal teeth, 

 and a smaller, but equally prominent conic one connected 

 with the labrum, between the interior antennas; anterior 

 feet with the third joint three-spiued before and one spined 

 at the outer tip; carpus with two elevated lines, the outer 

 one sometimes extended into an obtuse spine; hands some- 

 what linear, with five or six raised, granulate lines, and a 

 strong spine at base, fingers linear, a little hooked at tip, 

 with impressed lines, and furnished with somewhat regu- 

 lar teeth, about four in each, teeth rounded, compressed, 

 each with a supplemental smaller one at the base each 

 side; fourth joint of the three following pairs of feet, with 

 two short spines at the tip above. 



The edible crab is known to every one by the name of 

 *' Crab." It is brought to our markets in great quanti- 

 ties, from all the bays and inlets of the sea coast, and is a 

 very acceptable food. Feeds on dead animal matter in its 

 various stages of putrescence, and is one of the many de- 

 purators of the ocean. In addition to the particulars already 

 stated by naturalists of its manners, I will observe that it 

 often buries itself in the sand so that no part is visi- 

 blc but the eyes and interior antennae, these last are then 

 in continual motion, the bifid terminal joint acting as 

 forceps to seize and convey to its mouth the small molus- 

 cous animals for food. They are so numerous that the 

 sein fishermen often reject them. The shell is cast annu- 

 ally, generally in the spring, and they are then known by 

 the nameofsoft-shell crab, are very delicate, and in particu- 

 lar request for the table: in this state the crab is incapable 

 of any defence against its enemies; the male usually re- 



