CH. -ST MABINE FAUNA OF TALISSE SHOBES 141 



between them. I often had the unpleasant reflection before 

 me that such a ground is not an unlikely place to break a 

 leg, and a dread thought of the savage surgery which might 

 one day be in store for me. 



The ground is perforated in all directions by the holes 

 of the gelasimus crabs. These have been well described by 

 Adams in his account of the zoology of the Samarang, 

 and as I can confirm in every respect his description, I 

 cannot do better than quote it here (1) . 



' Near Manado there is a woody tract not far from the 

 town which abounds in Gelasimi of the most beautiful 

 colours. I have described and figured one species allied to 

 G. bellator of a green colour with black markings ; another 

 black with two bright ultramarine spots in the centre of 

 the carapace ; and another grey, marbled with white, with 

 an enormous yellow chela. These cover the ground by 

 thousands, stalking about and holding up their claws in a 

 most ridiculous manner. Notwithstanding they appear to 

 be overburdened with this unwieldy member, they are by 

 no means easy to capture, but on the slightest attempt on 

 their liberty they run quickly to the mouths of their burrows 

 for protection, where they will boldly wait and see if their 

 enemy makes any further advances ; and, if he does, they 

 retreat quickly backwards, holding out their pincer as a 

 weapon of defence.' 



In Tahsse many of the gi-ey varieties had the large 

 chela of a very bright purple colour, and when a number 

 of these were together on a stretch of sand or mud, it was 

 a curious sight to see them dart into their burrows one by 

 one, holding up their chela in much the same way as a 

 prize-fighter holds his right arm when he begins a maul. 



The only mollusk that was at all common on the ground 

 was the common Pyrazus 'palustris, distinguished by its 

 straight tubular canal. 



