CRUSTACEA— CRAB. 785 



THECRAB.i 



As the crab is found upon land as well as in the water, the peculiarity 

 of its situation produces a difference in its habitudes, which it is proper to 

 describe. 



THE COMMON, OR BLACK-CLAWED CRAB, 



Has three notches on the front ; five serrated teeth on each side ; the claws 

 elevated; the next joint toothed; the hind feet subulated; the color a dirty 

 green, but red when boiled. It inhabits almost all shores, and lurks and 

 burrows under the sand. 



It changes its shell once a year, generally between Christmas and Easter, 

 and while it is performing this operation, it retires among the cavities of 

 rocks, and under large stones. The crab is an exceedingly quarrelsome 

 animal, and when it has seized on its antagonist, it is not easily compelled 

 to forego its hold. In this situation, the captive has no resource but to re- 

 linquish the limb, and nature has provided it with the power of accomplish- 

 ing this in a very curious manner. It stretches the claw out steady, the 

 claw suddenly gives a gentle crack, and the wounded limb drops off, not, 

 as we might be led to infer from reasoning, at the joint, but in the smoothest 

 part. 



• Cancer pag-nrus, Lin. The genus Cancer, or crabs, have the exterior antennae short, in- 

 verted between the inner canthus of the eye and front, and the intermediate ones, in small 

 furrows in the centre ; third joint of the anterior feet-jaws, almost square, with a notch at 

 the internal angle of the summit ; anterior feet largest, with the forceps unequal; shell 

 short, transverse, narrowed posteriorly ; the anterior margin semicircular, often dentated. 

 on the sides, with the lateral angle obtuse ; eyes on a short peduncle. 



99 66*= 



