ON CRUSTACEA. 295 



ways, sometimes to the riglit, sometimes to the left, accord- 

 ing to circumstances. They live, like the other Crustacea, on 

 the flesh of other animals which they find dead, or which they 

 can seize alive, catching them with their claws or pincers." , 



" The grapsus cinereus, which I have likewise observed, 

 lives in rivers to which the tide of the sea ascends, or to speak 

 more correctly, on their edges ; for it is more frequently out of 

 than in the water. When any one appears in the places where 

 they have assembled, and their assemblies are in general very 

 numerous, they escape into the water, making a great uoise 

 with their feet, wdiich they strike one against the other. 



" The females of these two species of grapsi lay their eggs 

 in spring, the period in which they commence to re-appear, 

 for during the winter the first remains at the bottom of the 

 sea, and the second, doubtless, buried in the mud." 



The grapsus cinereus often comes on the shore, or on rocks, 

 to sport or bask in the sun, according to the report of the 

 same writer. 



This genus is tolerably numerous in sjiecies, spread over 

 the maritime coasts of the warm climates of both continents. 

 New Holland furnishes a good many. 



The grapsus varius lies in the holes of rocks on the shores 

 of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. It issues forth from 

 them to receive the rays of the sun, but regains its retreat on 

 the slightest appearance of danger, and fastens itself with so 

 much force with its feet, that it is very difiicult to make it 

 let go. 



Among the orbicular crabs, the Mai A is very common on 

 the coasts of the Mediterranean, where it generally receives 

 the name of sea-spider. It is one of the largest of the Crus- 

 tacea, and is the maia of the ancient Greeks, which is figured 

 on some of their medals. They attributed to it a great 

 degree of wisdom, and believed that it was sensible to the 

 charms of music. 



