ORDER CRUSTACEA HOMOBRANCHLE. 125 



and inhabit the mountainous districts of the islands, 

 many miles from the sea-shore : but, although they make 

 these places their usual haunt, it is necessary for them, 

 once a year, to repair to the sea, for the purpose of de- 

 positing their spawn. They prepare for their annual 

 migration about the monthof April or May, and, having 

 mustered in immense numbers, the procession sets for- 

 ward, with all the regularity of an army, under the 

 guidance of an experienced commander. 



Their destination being the sea, they instinctively 

 move in a 'direct line to the nearest coast ; no obstacle 

 which they can possibly surmount will induce them to 

 turn from their course ; for if even a house stands in 

 their way, they endeavour to scale its walls, in which 

 they sometimes succeed ; and should a window remain 

 open, they are not unlikely to direct their march over 

 the bed of some heedless sleeper. If, however, a large 

 river crosses their track, they continue to follow its 

 course without attempting to cross it. 



It is said, that they are commonly divided into three 

 battalions, of which the first consists of the strongest and 

 boldest males, who, like pioneers, march forward to clear 

 the route. They are often obliged to halt for want of 

 rain, and go into the most convenient encampment till 

 the weather changes. The main body consists of females, 

 who never leave the mountains till the rain has set in for 

 some time ; they then descend in regular order, formed 

 into columns of the breadth of fifty paces, and three 

 miles in length, and so close that they almost cover the 

 ground. Three or four days after this, the rear-guard 

 follows, a straggling undisciplined tribe, consisting of 

 males and females, but neither so robust nor vigorous as 

 the former parties. The night is their chief time of 



