THE HERMIT CRAB. 567 
collection at the British Museum, where a number of oysters had affixed 
themselves to the shell, and consequeatiy had been borne about with the crab 
in all its peregrinations. : ? 
WE now arrive at the family of the Portunide, or Swimming Crabs, which 
may be recognized by the construction of the last pair of i-et, which are 
flattened sideways, and have the last joint dilated into a thin obiique plate, 
which answers as an ovr or a fin, and enables the creature tu propel itself 
through the water. ‘The first ex unple of this family is the GREEN or SHORE 
CRAB, so familar to eversone who has passed even an hour on the coast 
between the time of high ani low water, Although one of the commonest of 
our native crustaceans, it is at the same time one of the most interesting, 
and, owing to its diurnal habits, its fearless nature, and its love for the shallow 
waters, it is very easily observed. { have spent many a pleasant hour in watch- 
ing the habits of this little creature, and could hardly have imagined the 
activity, the piercing sight, and the cleverness with which this crab is endowed. 
The NIPPER CraB is a really wonderful swimmer, being able, acco: ding 
to Mr. Couch’s account, to as-end to the surface of the sea, and to pursue its 
prey through the waters. So well does this creature swim, and so voracious 
is its appetite, that it captures and eats even the swiftest sea-nsh, having 
been known to pounce upon the mackerel and the pollack. Its method of 
proceeding seems to be to dart upon its prey, grasp it firmly w th its sharply 
pointed and powerful claws, and :etain its hold until the unfortunate victim 
is quite fatizued anid falls an easy prey. ; ; 
WE now arrive at another fainily. called the Ocypodide, or Swift footed 
Crabs, from ther extraordinary speed, which equals or even exceeds that of 
a man, 
The figure in the engraving represents the FIGHTING CRAR, a creature 
whose name is well deserved. As the reader may observe, one of its claws 
is enormously lirge in proportion to the 
body, being indeed nearly equal in dimen- 
sions to the whole caripace, while the 
other claw is quite small and feeble. It 
is remarkab'e that sometimes the right 
and sometimes the left claw is thus de- 
veloped. This animal is a most deter- 
mined fighter, and has the art of disposing 
its limbs like the arms of a boxer, so as to 
be equally ready for attack or defence 
The hgure shows the crab in its posture 
of defence. ; 
The Fighting Crab lives on the sea- Wa 
shore or on the border of salt marshes, H/\ 3; 
and burrows deeply in the earth, the (WZ 
holes being tolerably cylindrical and — 
rather oblique in direction. In some HERMIT CRAB.—(/agurses 
plices these holes are so close together Be uhardus.) 
that the earth is quite honeyc -:mbed with them, and the place looks like a 
rabbit warren. Each burrow is tenanted by a pair of crabs, the male always 
remaining in the post of danger at the mouth of the tunnel, and keeping 
guard with his gre it claw at the entrance. 
While running, it his a habit of holding the larze claw aloft, and moving it 
as if beckoning to some one ; a habit which has cause | one of the species to 
be named the Calling Crab This act:on has in it something very ludicrous, 
and those who have watched the proceedings of a crab warren say that 
there are few scenes more ridiculous than that which is presented by the 
