THE ROBBER CEAB. 91 



crab from its residence, and laying it flat before him. The 

 Robber Crab, however, does not live in a shell, and its abdomen 

 is consequently defended by hard plates, instead of being soft and 

 unprotected like that of the hermit crab, to which it is closely 

 allied. 



The Eobber Crab inhabits the islands of the Indian ocean, and 

 is one of those cmstacea which are able to exist for a long time 

 without visiting the water, the gills being kept moist by means 

 of a reservoir on each side of the cephalothorax, in which the 

 organs of respiration lie. Only once in twenty-four hours does 

 this remarkable crab visit the ocean, and in all probability enters 

 the water for the purpose of receiving the supply which preserves 

 the gills in working order. 



It is a quick walker, though not gifted with such marvellous 

 speed as that which is the property of the racer and other land 

 crabs, and is rather awkward in its gait, impeded probably by 

 the enormous claws. While walking, it presents a curious aspect, 

 being lifted nearly a foot above the ground on its two central 

 pairs of legs, and if it be intercepted in its retreat, it brandishes 

 its formidable weapons, clattering them loudly, and always keep 

 ing its face towards the enemy. Some writers aver that it is 

 capable of climbing up the stems of the palm-trees, in order to 

 get at the fruit, but this assertion seems to require very strong 

 corroboration before it can be believed. 



The food of the Eobber Crab is of a very peculiar nature, 

 consisting chiefly, if not entirely, of the cocoa-nut. Most of my 

 readers have seen this enormous fruit as it appears when taken 

 from the tree, surrounded with a thick massy envelope of fibrous 

 substance, which, when stripped from the nut itself, is employed 

 for many useful purposes. How the creature is to feed on the 

 kernel seems quite a mystery ; ajii, primd facie, for a crab to ex- 

 tract the cocoa-nut from its envelope, to pierce the thick and 

 stubborn shell, and to feed upon the enclosed kernel, seems an 

 utterly impossible task. Indeed, had not the feat been watched 

 by credible witnesses, no one who was acquainted with the habits 

 and powers of the Crustacea would have credited such an asser- 

 tion. Tet Mr. Darwin, Messrs. Tyerman and Bennett, and other 

 observant men, have watched the habits of the creature, and all 

 agree in their accounts. 



According to Mr. Darwin, the crab seizes upon the fallen 



