240 THE NATURALIST IN 
AUSTRALIA. 
hand corner. With reference to their highly pugnacious propensities and_ scarlet 
colouring, the species is commonly distinguished by the local titles of the “ Fighting” 
or “Soldier Crab.” The eyes in the members of the genus Gelasimus are, as will be 
recognised by their portraits, remarkable organs. 
Being set at the extremities of long moveable 
footstalks, their owners command an extensive 
all-round vision, a fact which accounts for the 
readiness with which these crabs take alarm and 
disappear when approached. These elongated 
eyestalks are, moreover, possessed of completely 
independent powers of motion, and when, as 
often happens, a single “ optic” only is lowered 
into the elongated groove that is provided for 
its reception, the action is ludicrously suggestive 
of a sagacious wink. 
Broome Creek, of which an illustration is 
given and to which reference is made in Chap- 
ter V., is conspicuously rich in Gelasimi. In 
addition to this commonest scarlet 
type, G. coarctata, the writer met 
with no less than four other not- 
ably distinct species as the result 
of a few hours’ “ mud-larking.” 
As a rule, all of these several 
varieties were found to frequent in- 
dependent 
zones, in 
relation to 
the tide 
level. One 
form,equal 
in size to 
the scarlet 
species, 
WR 
and, in this 
MANGROVE FIGHTING CRABS, Gelasimus coarctata. 
W. Saville-Kent, Photo, 
TWO-THIRDS NATURAL SIZE. 
