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SUPPLEMENT 



species under the name of vocans ,- but no doubt this claw 

 serves them either as a buckler or offensive weapon. 



These Crustacea, which, as well as the ocypods, more par- 

 ticularly inhabit warm climates, make their dwelling in humid 

 soils near shores. 



M. Bosc has seen one species (vocans) in Carolina rushing 

 in crowds upon carcases, covering them, and disputing the 

 pieces with the vultures. The burrows formed by another 

 species (pugillatorj are so numerous that they touch. They 

 are cylindrical, usually oblique, and very deep. Rarely do 

 many individuals enter into the same one, for in that case the 

 peril would be very imminent. These animals do not fear the 

 w^ater, which sometimes covers;^them, but they do not seek to 

 enter it, and never remain there apong time of their own ac- 

 cord, except at the time of laying, and until the eggs disclose. 

 M. Bosc has found from the end of February some females in 

 which the under part of the tail w^as furnished with eggs ; but 

 he has never met any young ones in their first age, and he 

 suspects that they pass the first year of their existence in the 

 water or in the earth. The males'^are distinguished from the 

 females, by being smaller,j more coloured, and having the tail 

 triangular. The pincers do not indicate sexual difference. 

 This species remains during winter, or during three or four 

 months, in its burrow, which is almost always closed, so that 

 the animal is obliged to re-open it, when the heat of the sun 

 is strong enough to force it to quit its dwelling. 



This crustaceum is not an article of food. It has many 

 enemies, and such are the otters, the birds, the bears, the tor- 

 toises, and other reptiles ; but its multiplication is so exces- 

 sive, that no sensible diminution results from their devasta- 

 tions. 



The Gelasima maracoani is found at Cayenne and in 

 Brazil, running on the sea-shore after a reflux, but remain- 



