THE LITTORAL AND MARINE FAUNA 317 



than of coconut in any form, and it was difficult to persuade 

 tliem to eat pieces of coconut when there was any animal food 

 to be had. 



I have never seen the Birgus crab go near the water, 

 nor did those that I had in my possession show any desire to 



Fig. 69. 



The " Robber Crab." 

 {Birgus latro.) 



get into the water that was provided for them ; in fact, the 

 creature seems to prefer the driest parts of the islands for its 

 home. The crab has a wonderful power of climbing, and 

 can clamber up anything that affords the least foothold. It 

 climbs trees with ease, and it could escape from any cage that 

 I ever tried, except an old oil-drum, the metal sides of which 

 afforded no foothold for its claws. 



This power of climbing trees it shares with the hermit 

 crabs of the genus CcenoMta (native name, Umpan), of which 

 two species — the one bright red, and the other dull blue — 

 swarm everywhere in the atoll. These too are interesting 

 creatures, and the way they will march and march — ever 

 leaving behind them a curious sand-print of their trailing shell 



