THE EDIBLE GRAB. 443 



The Domed Crab is a very remarkable example of this family, and in addition to certain 

 generic peculiarities, well displays the characteristics of the family. The claw-legs are very 

 large throughout their entire structure, and are furnished at their extremities with short but 

 powerful nippers. The carapace of this creature is extremely wide, but the width is due, 

 not so much to the body as to the shell, which is expanded in such a manner as to conceal the 

 legs under its shelter. 



The generic name Cryptopodia is derived from two Greek words signifying Hidden-legs, 

 and is an extremely appropriate title. Even the large claw-legs can be folded up and tucked 

 away so neatly under the carapace, that, when the creature lies still on the ground, no vestige 

 of limbs can be seen, and it might easily be mistaken for a stone thrown casually on the shore. 

 In fact, the whole contour of this crab, whether when moving or quiescent, irresistibly reminds 

 the observer of the tortoise tribe, and bears a special analogy to the box-tortoise, which has 

 already been described and figured. The eyes of this genus are very small, and, like the limbs, 

 can be wholly retracted and hidden under the shell. The Domed Crab is a native of Japan. 



A very singular and unprepossessing crab, called Spixose Parthenope {Parthenope 

 horrida), belongs to the typical genus of the family. At present, this genus seems to be very 

 small, the number of known species being decidedly limited. Owing to the marine residence 

 of these creatures, and the extreme difficulty, not to say impossibility, of watching them in 

 their watery homes, the habits of these Parthenopidse are but little known, and in most cases 

 can only be conjectured from the bodily form, just as the fossil animals are known to be 

 carnivorous or herbivorous by the structure of their teeth and jaws, to be swimming creatures 

 because they possess fins and paddles, or to be capable of flight because they are furnished 

 with wiugs. 



In the Spinose Parthenope, the carapace approaches to a five-sided figure, rather wider 

 than its length, moulded into a series of the oddest imaginable protuberances, and covered with 

 knobs, tubercles, and spines. The beak is sharp, short, pointed, and has a strong tooth just 

 between the antenna?. The claw-legs are very large, armed with powerful forceps at their 

 extremities, and covered thickly with such a multitude of knobs, spikes, and protuberances, 

 that they really seem as if they were subject to disease and had thrown out a crop of 

 unhealthy growths. The hinder limbs are comjjaratively small, but yet are strongly made, 

 and armed with a whole array of thorny spines, so that, what with the claws and what with 

 the spines, the creature is a truly formidable being, and one that may not be grasped with 

 impunity by a careless hand. 



This species inhabits some of the hotter parts of the world, and specimens were procured 

 from the Mauritius. 



The little Strawberry-crab is very appropriately named, as its color is of a pleasing 

 red, and its surface studded with numerous tubercles, so as to bear some resemblance to the 

 fruit whence it derives its popular name. It is a European species, and is generally found in 

 deep water, so that the dredge is the instrument usually employed in its capture. 



The Spine-armed Lambrus is a member of a moderately large genus, inhabiting the 

 Mediterranean and the warmer seas of the world in general. In many respects the genus 

 Lambrus resembles the parthenope, but is distinguishable by having. one plate fewer in the 

 abdomen, and by the manner in which the antenna? are jointed. The eyes of this Spine-armed 

 Lambrus are retractile and placed on footstalks of an elaborate and curious construction. 



The large family of the Canceridse now conies before us, and is familiarly known through 

 the medium of the common Edible Crab, which is represented in the accompanying illustra- 

 tion, the figure being drawn from a young specimen. 



This is a very common species, being plentiful around rocky coasts, and generally remain- 

 ing just under low-water mark. The fishermen catch it in various ways ; but the most usual 

 method, and that by which the greatest number of these crustaceans are captured, is by means 

 of certain baskets, called crab-pots, cruives, or creels, according to the locality. These baskets 

 are round, and in shape something like a flattened apple, and have an aperture at the top 

 through which the crab gains access to the interior. When once within the basket, it cannot 



