140 



CRAYFISH, LOBSTEliS, SPIDEliS, AND INSECTS 



Spider crabs. — The spider ci-abs are curious-looking 

 creatures (Fig. SU) with their small bodies and long, slender, 

 fragile-looking legs. Fot the most part they freiiuent the 

 sea bottom, and their long legs are of great advantage in 

 stalking about over the uneven surfaces that they meet in 

 such a habitat. Some species permit all soi'ts of foreign 

 bodies, both animals and plants, to become attached to 

 their bodies, so that they are effectually concealed, and 



Fig. so. — Arctic spider crab. 



even when moving, it seems as if a small forest of seaweed 

 were being transplante(.l to another locality. The largest 

 crustacean known belongs to the group of spider crabs. It 

 is the Macrocheira of Japan. Specimens of this spider 

 crab have been caught that measure from twelve to eigh- 

 teen feet Ijctwecn I he ti})s of its outstretched claws, while 

 their bodies mcasiu'C only about as many i]iches in width. 

 Fiddler crabs, — The hddler cra]_)s are abundant along the 

 seacoast, especially among salt marshes. They burrow in 

 the sand and have the habit of naming sideways to ami 



