464 A CORNISH FAUNA. 



The foregoing passage lias been quoted at length, in Bell's 

 Stalk- Eyed Crustacea, p 118, 



Genus, Portunus. — Leach. 



Terminal articulation of the posterior legs formed flat for 

 swimming. "Moveable stem of the outer antennae composed of 

 two articulations, and inserted on the same line with the eyes 

 and inner antennae ; their basilar articulations fixed in front 

 and entirely separating the orbit and cavity of the antennae." 



Portunus pulber. — Velvet Crab. — Leacli's Malac.^ p. 16; Milne 

 Edwards, Hist, des Crust., t \,p. 431; BeWs Brit. 8talh-Eyed 

 Crust., p. 90. 



Cancer velutinus. — Pennant, pi. 4, fig. 8. 



" This is the largest British sjoecies of the family, some- 

 times measuring four or five inches across the carapace. It is also 

 the most active and fierce, running with great agility on the 

 appearance of danger, but stojDping and asuming the attitude of 

 defence when closely pressed. The largest keep in water at the 

 depth of a few fathoms, and the smallest about low water mark, 

 among stones, beneath which they shelter themselves." 



Writing to Mr. Bell Mr. Couch says: — "It seizes an enemy 

 suddenly and holds him with tenacity." 



Mr. Bell says " that he has occasionally seen it brought to the 

 London market with Carcinus Mcenas, and it is taken in large 

 quantities on the French coast as an article of food." 



A friend residing in the Channel Islands informed me that it 

 is preferred in that locality as a greater luxury than the com- 

 mon edible crab. 



Portunus depurator. — Cleanser Swimming Crab. — Linn., Pen- 

 nant, Leach Malao., pi. 9; Bell Brit. Stalk- J^yed Crust., p. 90. 



Portunus plicatus. — Milne Edwards, Hist, des Crust., t \, p. 

 442; Couch'' s Cornish Fauna, p. 71. 



"Common, with much of the habits of the last species. There 

 is some difiiculty in assigning the proper synonyms, to this and 

 the two following species, which are described as inhabiting our 

 coasts, and it is probable that we have one or more to which 

 none of the descriptions apply. They are all termed harbour 

 or Mary crabs, and all exceedingly ravenous, fastening eagerly 

 on any animal substance that comes within their reach." 



