684 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 



different stages of growth as observed in October. They were not 

 dormant, as freshly made holes were observable. Both P. {A.) martensi 

 and P. (P.) spmigera were present, the former being in larger numbers. 

 In the dry fields which were not yet ploughed up the dried castings 

 of crabs were prominently noticeable as small mounds of earth. The 

 holes came to view when these castings were removed. Five such 

 holes were dug out and at a depth of about 10 to 12 feet five crabs were 

 found, one in each hole. These five are shown in the photograph.* 

 The three larger ones are P. (P.) spinigera but the largest of them is 

 only about half the size of large specimens of spinigera observed in this 

 locality. The two small ones in the photograph are P. (A.) martensi 

 and they are quite young. The earth at the depth where these crabs 

 were foimd was soft and muddy but there was no water although a 

 httle water was oozing out into the pit. The holes were open through- 

 out their length and not clogged or blocked anywhere. The crabs 

 were not actually dormant but they were certainly less active and less 

 agile than when observed in water in the rice fields in October. 



A third collection of crabs from the same locality was made on 20th 

 January 1919 in holes near water where available. Foitr men took 

 about the whole day to collect 41 specimens which were in different 

 stages of growth but none of them appeared to be full-grown. Out 

 of these 41, only four were P. (P.) spinigera and the rest P. (A.) martensi. 

 The season of activity of the crabs at Barail lasts throughout the 

 rains. The MtishaJiars, who use these crabs largely as food, said that 

 breeding takes place in Asar (June- July), i.e., the early part of the 

 rains, when the mothers are observed to carry the brood in the brocd- 

 pouch under the abdominal flap. The crabs live in the fields as long 

 as the latter are under water. When the water recedes or dries they 

 make, and go into, holes underground. The holes are extended down- 

 wards with the subsidence of the level of the subsoil water. The winter 

 and summer are passed in these holes. From the size of the hibernating 

 and sestivating specimens collected at different times, it would appear 

 that these crabs take several years, probably three to four or more, 

 to become full-grown. Large numbers of them, probably all which 

 escape from enemies, successfully liibernate and sestivate. In fact 

 it becomes necessary for them to be able to do so when they take such 

 a long period to attain full-growth. Their underground life is a great 

 help in this respect. In order to give a rough idea as to the numbers 

 which hibernate and sestivate, it may be mentioned that in an area 

 of about 50 yards by 40 yards of the plot of land in which the five crabs 



* Not reproduced. 



