292 SUPPLEMENT 



females surcharged with eggs, their flesh forms some little 

 compensation to the inhabitants for their troublesome visits, 

 and the mischief which they occasion. It is reported that they 

 halt twice a day, as well for the purpose of feasting, as for a 

 short repose ; but they travel principally by night. 



When arrived at the sea shore, they bathe themselves there, 

 as it is said, three or four times, and then retire into the neigh- 

 bouring plains and woods, where they repose for some time. 

 The females then return a second time to the water, and 

 having washed themselves a little, they open their tails, let 

 fall the eggs which are there attached, and take a fresh bath ; 

 after tliis operation, they seek to regain, in the same order, 

 the places from which they had proceeded, and by the same 

 route. But the most vigorous individuals are alone destined 

 to revisit their former mountain-dwelling ; most of them are, 

 at their return, so feeble and thin, that they are forced to stop 

 frequently to recover themselves. 



The eggs thus deposited in the sea are thrown back upon 

 the fine sand of the beach, and after having been for some 

 time warmed by the rays of the sun, the young are seen to 

 issue from them. These speedily proceed to establish them- 

 selves in the neighbouring woods, until they have acquired 

 strength enough to repair to the mountains, and to form other 

 families. 



When they return into their habitations, these Crustacea have 

 new trials to undergo. It is then the time of their moulting. 

 They all conceal themselves in the earth for some weeks, 

 so that there are none of them to be seen ; even the entrance of 

 their burrows is then closed. It is said that they are then, as 

 it were, enveloped in the leaves of trees. The flesh of those 

 which have but just thrown off their old covering is in great 

 estimation. The inhabitants of the islands then name them 

 crahes hoursieres (pouched crahsj, for, as in the moultings of 

 the other Crustacea, their teguments then form only a red. 



