7650 Crustacea. 



The Crab and Us Allies. By C. Spence Bate, Esq., F.L.S., &c. 



(Continued from p. 7653). 



To be a faithful naturalist requires patience. When keeping a lot 

 of young crabs together, we perceive, after a time, that one begins to 

 thicken a little and the carapace to lift up, so that the posterior 

 portion of the thorax becomes more conspicuous behind. This crab 

 will also be found not to feed ; in this way perhaps one, two or more 

 days pass away. Watching the same one still, it will be found 

 desirous to remove as far as possible from the neighbourhood of its 

 companions, seeking a crevice for itself, appearing anxious and 

 distressed if intruded upon by any stranger, becoming very savage, and 

 darting at anything which approaches it ; but if left at peace, it will 

 quietly remain until the time arrives when it hitches the point of one 

 of its claws in some crack or crevice, and withdraws itself fiora its old 

 skin, escaping between the carapace and the body of the animal. 

 To anchor itself by some crevice appears to be absolutely necessary ; 

 for a crab kept in a tumbler of water appeared to have no power to 

 free itself from the skin until a shilling was thrown into the glass, 

 when it immediately hitched its legs beneath its weight and drew 

 itself out of the old skin. Immediately it is free it enlarges to the 

 full sizt of its growth, at which it remains until it again throws off the 

 shell. 



Reaumur stated that the process is one of great labour and difficulty, 

 as well as duration. But my own observation upon the marine 

 Crustacea bear out those made by Messrs. Gosse and Couch, that it 

 is easily and quietly done, in a short period, without a struggle ; but 

 they seem to have the power of choosing their own time of performing 

 the act, and will not, if possible, do it while any one is looking 

 at them. I have often watched and waited for hours, scarcely taking 

 my eyes off the trough in which they were, without success ; but 

 upon my return, after an absence of only a few minutes' duration, T 

 have found the exuviae thrown off. Did I not say a naturalist 

 requires patience ? 



It is an amusing story, an exciting game at hide-and-seek, to watch 

 a crab. You run away a bit, but, fearing to stay too long and perhaps 

 miss the whole, you just peep over the edge of the bason. No change; 

 ithere sits the crab, with its eye upon you, come when you will ; it 

 only gives a jerk with its anterior antennge, as much as to say, "Don't 

 you wish you may get it ! " So back you go again, and wait perhaps 



