312 



A. E. Verrill — Decapod Crustacea of Bermuda. 



f Digits of chelae slender and gaping. 



§ Digits broad. 



II Digits broad and only slightly gaping. 



1[ Digits not very slender, compressed, gaping. 



Nos. 7533a, 7534, and 7551 had hairy legs. (S. I. Smith.) 



According to Mr. A. H. Verrill, who found it very abundant in 

 man_y localities in San Domingo, in 1907, especially at Samana and 

 San Lorenzo, it constructs its burrows there almost everywhere in 

 open grassy land or savannas, or even in yards and gardens, but only 

 where there is clay soil beneath the surface. It brings up the soil in 

 the form of hard pellets or ovoid balls, and deposits them around the 

 mouth of the burrows. Some of the balls are often over an inch in 

 diameter. The holes are sometimes 6 to 8 inches in diameter. They 

 abound both on dry land and near the water, sometimes burrowing 

 in the banks of streams. He did not find them particularly pugna- 

 cious and the natives handle them freely. They are slow and rather 

 sluggish in their motions. About February they retire into their 

 holes and close them up with small piles of earth made of pellets, 

 remaining there for some time. During this time they are said to be 

 fat and are esteemed as food, especially about Easter, by the natives. 

 At that season they are sold in the markets. Later in the season, in 

 summer and fall, they freely leave their burrows and run about, both 

 at night and in sunlight. At such times they are "lean " and are not 



