260 



THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 



Jamaica Land- Crab . 



here they do not, as with us, inhabit solely the salt waters, but also 

 people the brooks and rivers, or even constantly sojourn on land, 

 - -as, for instance, the Thelphxisce and Geca/rcini. There are even 



some species of land -crabs that suffo- 

 cate when dipped into water. They 

 breathe indeed through branchiae,, 

 but the small quantity of oxygen 

 dissolved in water does not suffice 

 for the wants of their active respira- 

 tion. They generally live in the 

 shades of the damp forests, often at a great distance from the 

 sea, concealing themselves in holes. At breeding time they 

 generally seek the shore for the purpose of washing off their 

 spawn, and depositing it in the sand, and no obstruction will 

 then make them deviate from the straight path. They feed on 

 vegetable substances, and are reckoned very excellent food. 

 When taken, they will seize the person's finger with their claw, 

 and endeavour to escape, leaving the claw behind, which for 

 some time after it has been separated from the body, continues 

 to give the finger a friendly squeeze. In the dusk of the evening 

 they quit their holes, and may then be seen running about with 

 great swiftness. 



All sandy and muddy coasts of the tropical seas, affording 

 sufficient protection against a heavy sea, swarm with crabs. 

 In the East and West Indies the Grelasimi bore in every 

 direction circular holes in the moist black soil of the coast. 

 One of the claws of these remarkable creatures is much larger 

 than the other, so as sometimes to surpass 

 in size the whole remainder of the body. 

 They make use of it as a door, to close the 

 entrance of their dwelling, and when run- 

 ning swiftly along, carry it upright over the 

 head, so that it seems to beckon like an out- 

 stretched hand. One might fancy the crab 

 moved it as in derision of its pursuers, tell- 

 ing them by pantomimic signs, " Catch me if you can ! " 



As soon as the ebbing flood lays bare the swampy grounds of 

 the mangrove woods, myriads of animals are seen wallowing in 

 the pestiferous mud. Here a fish jumps about, there a holo- 

 thuria crawls, and crabs run along by thousands in every direc- 



Large- Clawed Calling- 

 Crab. 



