THE MASKED CRAB. 
Written and Illustrated with Photographs by EpwarD STEP, F.1.S. 
Ne no great distance in the past the resemblance to human features on the crab, 
whose portraits we here present, was considered its most—or only—remarkable 
character. A nearly-allied British species, the Round Crab, exhibits a similar though 
less pronounced mask, and in consequence is known along the South Devon coast 
as the Old-man’s Face Crab. Another species with features on its upper crust is 
known to the Japanese as the Demon-face Crab. It will thus be seen that our 
Masked Crab is not unique in presenting a caricature of the lords of creation. As 
a matter of fact there is nothing very remarkable about these false presentments, 
for the depressions and eminences to which they are due simply mark the areas of 
the various internal organs, and most crabs exhibit similar sculpturing. The chin 
indicates the intestinal region, the broad nose and conical forehead cover the heart, 
the liver hes within the brows, and the puffy cheeks are filled with the gills. The 
fact that the shell of the Masked Crab is longer from front to back than from side 
to side, with the consequent modification of the areas 
mentioned, gives the whole a closer resemblance to | 
the human face. 
The really interesting point to call attention | 
to in this brief notice of the Masked, or Long-armed 
Crab, as it is variously styled, is not this fortuitous 
likeness, but the remarkable modification of structure 
brought about by its peculiar habits. To appreciate 
fully that difference, a living specimen should be 
examined and compared with a crab of more ordinary 
form, such as, for example, the common Green Shore 
Crab. The latter is a very active crab in or out of 
water. He runs about the edge of the tide, or lurks 
under stones and weeds, ever on the look-out for any 
sort of garbage, and willing to give you a practical 
demonstration of the muscular power contained in 
his nippers. The Masked Crab leads a hfe wholly 
different, and its form has been varied to suit that NG 
life. Found only where there are beaches of fine UNDERSIDE OF MASKED CRAB. 
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