CRABS 277 
WALKING CRABS 
FAMILY CANCROIDE 
Genus Cancer 
C.irroratus, the rock-crab. This is the common crab of the New 
England coast. It ranges from Labrador to South Carolina, but is rare 
south of New Jersey. It 
is found on sandy as 
well as on rocky shores 
at and below low-water 
mark and also between 
tide-marks, hidingamong 
rocks, nearly buried in 
sand or gravel, and in 
tide-pools, where some- 
times amusing combats 
between the males may 
be seen. The carapace 
is suboval, one third 
broader than long, the 
breadth being often from 
three tofourinches. The 
surface is granulated but : 
smooth; the color is Cancer irroratus, the rock-crab; male. 
yellowish, closely dotted 
with brown. The eyes are on short stalks in deep, circular holes, and 
between the eyes are small teeth. There are nine blunt teeth along 
each side of the front edge of the carapace. The first pair of legs are 
short and stout, and terminate in claws. The four posterior pairs are 
slender and end in pointed tips. This is an edible crab, and it is 
devoured by the larger 
fishes, but does not — al- 
though there seems to be 
no reason for it — share 
to any extent a place in 
the markets with the blue 
crab, Callinectes sapidus. 
C. borealis, the Jonah 
crab. This crab resem- 
bles, and is frequently 
taken for, C. wroratus. 
It is larger than the latter 
in full growth, and is 
heavier and more mas- 
sive. The carapace and 
claws are rougher, the 
Cancer borealis, the Jonah crab; male. granules being irregular 
in size. The legs are 
proportionately shorter and heavier. The teeth on the anterior margins 
are rounded in front, but the posterior ones are sharply pointed. In color 
