THE BLACK-CLAWED CRAB, 



5°7 



times mark it on the back with a sharp-pointed in- 

 strument, or the end of a knife ; and it is very 

 surprising that this mark may not only be seen to 

 remain on the old shell, but that it is also found im- 

 pressed on the subsequent new one. These men 

 also say that, when Crabs have had their shells 

 marked, and been carried out to the distance of two 

 or three miles, and thrown among others, they will 

 always find their way back again : this the men have 

 often observed by afterward catching them in their 

 former haunts. 



When the claw of a Crab is bruised it bleeds, 

 and the animal seems by its motions to experience 

 much pain. For a while it moves it from side to 

 side 5 then, holding it perfectly steady in a direct 

 position, the claw on a sudden gives a gentle crack, 

 and the wounded part drops off, not at the joint, as 

 liath been generally said, but in the smoothest part of 

 the limb.;" just (says Mr. Collinson) as one sees the 

 neck of a retort separate when it has been heated 

 by a red-hot iron ring, on the application of cold 

 water." If, however, the wound happen to be at 

 the extremity of the claw, the animal is said gene- 

 rally to bleed to death, or to pine away in conse- 

 quence of the slow and almost insensible leaking of 

 the vital moisture. 



Crabs are naturally very quarrelsome, and fre- 

 quently have serious contests Sy means of those for- 

 midable weapons, their great claws. With these 

 they lay hold of their adversary's legs, and wherever 

 they seize it is not easy to make them forego their 

 hold. The animal seized has, therefore, no alter- 



