72 GENUS OCYPODE. 



the finger, forming an oval interval, curved near the tip, s^ 

 as to extend over the tip of the finger, and like it furnish- 

 ed with very small and numerous teeth, both smooth and 

 polished on the inner side; the other hand very small with 

 nearly equal fingers; abdominal segments broader than 

 long; hands of the female small, equal, a little bearded on 

 the inner side of the tip; the fingers of the smaller hand of 

 the male are also bearded" at tip. 



This is the animal so well known to the inhabitants of 

 the sea coast under the name of " Fiddler," an appellation 

 almost universal, and probably derived from a suppose^ 

 similitude between the large hand of the male and the fid- 

 dle or violin. I have never heard them utter any cry. 



The pugilator digs a hole in the earth, where the sand 

 rs not too abundant, choosing usually a situation on the 

 margin of a bay, or other salt water, in which the earth 

 possesses some tenacity, that the walls of its cell may be 

 ^he more permanent, and not liable to cave in upon him. 

 In such situations the Fiddlers are extremely numerous. 

 During the day they seldom venture far from their dwel- 

 ling, but upon the slightest appearance of danger whole 

 troops of them di -appear immediately, taking refuge in 

 their holes, sonntetimes when the danger is imminent an in- 

 dividual will seek security in a dwelling not his own; in 

 this case the occupant patiently submits to the intru- 

 sion. 



The large claw is sometimes on the left side and some- 

 times on the right, indifferently. 



The species vocans of Linnaeus seems to have inclu- 

 ded several perfectly distinct animals, and great is the con- 

 fusion in the synonyma of different authors in relation to 

 it. Mr. Latreille has been able to distinguish three 



