67 



embedded in the soil ; for the Corwich Crab has been observ- 

 ed, when caught at the time of its first activity in April, to 

 have the inequalities of its carapace covered with the mud of 

 the bottom. It is perhaps at this period of repose that the 

 crops of sea weeds and corallines (Sertulariae) fix themselves 

 as they are often seen beautifully adorning them ; shells of 

 different species, but especially Oysters and Muscles, are also 

 found adhering, and on the smaller kinds, as of the Genera 

 Inachus and Pisa, spunge will grow so luxuriantly as to con«. 

 ceal the whole carapace, with tufts on the legs to the extre- 

 mities. 



In the spring the Spider Crabs appear in water of the depth 

 of a few fathoms ; but as the weather grows warmer they 

 approach the shore, and in summer climb the rocks so as 

 sometimes to be left by the receding tide. At the season of 

 its greatest activity the Corwicli Crab becomes so abundant 

 that, as no one thinks of purchasing them, they are regarded 

 as a great annoyance by the fishermen ; for it is found that 

 when they occupy his orab pot no Lobster will enter it. I 

 have been informed of nearly a cart load having been taken 

 at one haul of a ground scan, and singularly enough, the whole- 

 were found to be females. It is indeed a general observation 

 that the females exceed the males in the proportion of perhaps. 

 10 to 1, and during the summer they are all well loaded with 

 spawn ; which having been carried beneath the flap, as in- 

 other Crabs, for several months, for the sake of free exposure 

 to the water and light, are dropped in some concealed places,, 

 where they elude observation ; for I have not succeed in find-' 

 ing one of very small size. 



The family of Cyclometops is divided into two subfamilies, 



CANCERIANS : posterior legs as in the former family, 

 ending in a pointed articulation, and thus unfit for swim- 

 ming. 



PORTUNIANS : posterior legs more enlarged than the pre™ 

 ceding, ending in a broad plate ciliated at the edges, and 

 fitted for swimming, 



CANCERIANS, or CRABS, 



GENUS ZANTHO: carapace large, horizontal; a narrow 

 fissure dividing it into two portions, the separating line fur- 

 rowed ; cavities of the antennae transverse, separated by a 

 slender partition ; antennas short. 



FURROWED CRAB, Z. Ftoridus. M. Edwards' Crust,, 

 vol. 1, p. 394. Leach's Malac, pi. 11. Common, 



LESS FURROWED CRAB. Z. Rivulosus, M. Edwards* 

 Crust., vol. 1, p. 894. Equally common with the last, and 

 in similar situations, under stones about low water mark. 



