Book IX. land of BARBADOS. 265 
The MuLatTro Cras. 
HIS differs from the white, already defcribed, chiefly in the Colour 
of its Shell, which is yellowifh, and its Refidence, which is often 
up inthe Country, above two or three Miles diftant from the Sea. c 
They generally burrow about the Edges of frefh-water Ponds, the 
Bottom of their Holes being always fo deep as to reach the Water. 
Thefe feed in the Night upon the green tender Grafs about the Sides of 
the Ponds, and are in general efteemed as good Eating as the white 
Crabs ; but prove equally as poifonous, if eaten foon after they have fed 
| upon the Berries of Poifon-trees; unlefs, as before, the Fat and the in- 
fide Meat is firft wafhed in Lime-Juice ; which either correéts or wafhes 
off the venomous Quality. 
The Buack LanpD-CRas. 
HIS {mall Crab, though I have never feen it, yet, as I am credibly 
informed, is generally an Inhabitant of old Timber-Houfes, and fuch 
Ruins; and it is very fat and delicious, but rare and uncommon, 
The RED LAND-CRAB: 
HIS is but a {mall Crab ; the Back feldom above two Inches long 5 
its Colour of a blackifh Red. 
It hath two Claws, and four Legs, on a Side. 
Thefe Crabs, after a heavy Shower of Rain in the Months of March, 
April, and May, are to be feen in great Numbers, loaden with Spawn, 
going down to the Sea-Side to depofit it in the Sand, near the Wath 
of the Water; and foon afterwards to return into the Country, but 
generally not very far from the Sea; though I have often feen them at 
above two Miles Diftance from the falt Water. 
As thefe are very fat, they. are efteemed good Eating. 
The common Method of dreffing them among the Negroes is, to roaft 
them. 
This Species of Crabs were perhaps very plentiful in Jza/y in the Time 
of Virgil ; for, in his fourth Georgic, he forbids roafting of red Crabs 
near an Apiary, the Smell of them being difagreeable to the Bees. 
The SoLDIER-CRAB. 
— HIS is amphibious. 
Sometimes it is caught upon the Rocks at a confiderable Diftance 
from the Land; but they are moft commonly feen upon the Shore, 
It 
