890 Something about Crabs. 
one cannot help thinking of the musician—usually bald-headed— 
away down to the left of the orchestra, who so vigorously saws the 
bass notes from the viol. Let the latter scamper away, viol and 
all, as rapidly as does the crab, and the simile would be complete. 
When, however, you seat yourself and allow the cancrine commu- 
nity to regain its wonted quiet, then you can study these forms to 
your heart’s desire, and see the various occupations. Some are 
engaged in gathering food, others in building houses. None are 
idle, but there seems to be no general supervision, each individual 
following his own inclinations. The holes in which they live vary 
somewhat with the species. Those on Cape Cod excavate a simple 
tube leading to a cavity sometimes a foot or two beneath the sur- 
face. Further south an allied form appears which arches over the 
mouth of its burrow with an oven-like roof, beneath the shade of 
which the proprietor sits and watches for any approaching 
danger. 
These fiddlers are rather remarkable among the crabs in that 
they live in pairs. Mr. Fiddler is the one who goes about, builds 
‘the house, collects the food, and fights the battles and defends the 
family honor. ' His faithful spouse is but rarely seen above ground, 
but what her duties are in her cellar home is a problem yet to be 
solved. You may at once recognize her by the fact that she lacks 
the fiddle of her other half. Both of her pincers—hands one might 
almost call them—are of the same size and resemble the smaller 
hand of the male, and she uses them indiscriminately in feeding 
the principal use to which they are put. 
The fiddler crabs are usually said to be vegetarians, and, indeed, 
the greater proportion of their food consists of alge. They do 
not, however, confine themselves to this diet, but will eat dead 
insects or crabs, and, in confinement, they will at times turn can- 
nibals, and prey upon the weaker individuals of their own species. 
This may be prevented by feeding them often enough and a suffi- 
cient amount of vegetable matter. I have had them thrive for 
months in confinement upon crackers soaked in water, of which, 
though not their natural food, they appear to be very fond. When 
thus kept captive they afford very interesting pets, and their 
actions cause a good many questions. The care is extremely simple. 
First get your crabs and your jar or box of moist sand, put to 
