284 SUPPLEMENT 



In this part of Africa, it does not appear, from all re- 

 searches, that any sjjecies of gecarcinits or tourlourous, pro- 

 perly so called, has as yet been found. But the habitation of 

 the ocypodc hippeus of Olivier extends from Syria and Egypt 

 as far as Cape de Verde, from which M. Latreille suspects that 

 to this species must be applied what Pere Labat has related 

 concerning the crabs of the point of Barbary. 



According to Artus, earth-crabs are also to be seen on the 

 Gold-coast similar to those of the Leeward Islands, and which 

 supply the inhabitants with an excellent food. They dig 

 themselves holes, which serve as a retreat. There are found 

 in the island of Java other earth or land-crabs, but which are 

 not eaten. They quit their burrows during the day, and feed, 

 according to report, on plants. These, perhaps, may be the 

 oci/pode ceratoplithahna, which is very much extended on the 

 maritime coasts of the East Indies. The collection of Crus- 

 tacea of New Holland, formed by Peron and M, Lesueur, 

 although very numerous, presents no species of ocypode and 

 gee arc in. 



Linnaeus informs us that the ocypode hippeus, which he 

 calls cursor, and under which name he includes this species 

 and ceratophthalma, is to be found in the Mediterranean sea, 

 as well as in the Indian Ocean ; and that after the setting of 

 the sun it quits the water for the sandy shores, and runs 

 with an extreme velocity. 



Belon asserts that the lizards succeed in catching it for the 

 purpose of food. Olivier has had no opportunity of verifying 

 this assertion. 



The ancient naturalists, and some among the moderns, have 

 represented the Crustacea named Pinnotheres, and also 

 pinnoter and pinnophylax, as the sentinels and guardians of 

 the mollusca of the genus j^i/^na, as their commensals, and in 

 some sort their sutlers. It was believed that they were born 

 at the same time and along with them ; that they were even 



