100 SEA-SHORE LIFE 



and many otlier marine animals. In fact, almost any decomposing 

 animal will be greedily devoured by crabs. The shell is shed at 



Fig. 68; GREEN GRAB. AniiisqiiMn, Mass. 



least once during the summer and the crab then expands consider- 

 abl}', but remains soft for a few days, and is then sold in the mar- 

 kets as a "soft-shelled crab." The soft-shelled male crabs hide 

 away during this period, for they are quite defenceless, but the 

 soft-shelled female is protected by a hard-shelled male who clings 

 to her. The paddle-like expansions of the last joints of the hinder- 

 most pairs of legs enable the blue crab to swim rapidly, while its 

 other legs are used in crawling. It is exceedingly pugnacious 

 and makes effective use of its sharp, powerful claws. 



The eggs are laid during the summer soon after the annual 

 moult, and are carried about attached to the abdominal appendages 

 of the female until they hatch. 



This blue crab can be at once distinguished from all other 

 species of our coast by the sharp spine which projects outward 

 from each side of the body. It becomes fully six inches in width. 



The Green Crab, fCarcinus mcenas, Fig. 68). This crab is dark 

 olive-green mottled with yellow-green, and is abundant in Long 

 Island Sound, and on the New England Coast north of Cape Cod. 

 It is also found on the northern coasts of Europe, where it is sold 



