OF NATURAL HISTORY. 50s 



alarmed with danger, they run backward in a diforderly manner, 

 and hold up their nippers in a threatening pofture. They even feem 

 to intimidate their enemies ; for, when difturbed, they make a clat- 

 tering noife with their nippers. But, though they endeavour to ren- 

 der themfelves formidable to their enemies, they are cruel to each 

 other. When an individual, by any accident, is fo maimed that he 

 cannot proceed, his companions immediately devour him, and then 

 purfue their journey. After a fatiguing and tedious march, which 

 fometimes continues three months before they reach the fhore, they 

 prepare themfelves for depofiting their fpawn. The eggs ftlU remain 

 in the bodies of the animals, and are not excluded, as ufual to this 

 genus, under the tail. To facilitate the maturation and exclufion of 

 the eggs, the land-crabs no fooner arrive on the fhore, than they ap- 

 proach to the margin of the fea, and allow the waves to pafs feve- 

 ral times over their bodies. They immediately retire to the land ; 

 the eggs, in the mean time, come nearer to maturity, and the ani- 

 mals once more go to the water, depofit their eggs, and leave the 

 event to Nature. The bunches of fpawn are fometimes as large as 

 a hen's egg ; and it is not incurious to remark, that, at this very pe- 

 riod, numbers of fifhes of different kinds are anxioufly waiting for 

 this annual fupply of food. Whether the painful migration of the 

 land-crabs, or the wonderful inflind of the fifhes which await their 

 arrival, in order to devour their fpawn, is the moft aftonifhing fadt, 

 we fhall leave to the confideration of philofophers. The eggs which 

 efcape thefe voracious fifhes are hatched under the fand. Soon af- 

 ter, millions of minute crabs are feen leaving the fhore, and migra- 

 ting flowly toward the mountains. Moft of the old ones, however, 

 remain in the Hat parts of the country till they regain their ftrength. 

 They dig holes in the earth, the mouths of which they cover with 

 leaves and mud. Here they throw off their old fhells, remain quite 

 naked, and almoft without motion for fix days, when they become 

 fo fat that they are efteemed delicious food. When the new fhell 



has 



