Something about Crabs. 893 
he large muscl es which close the pincers can pass through the small 
flattened rings of the intermediate joints. However, a change takes 
place in these before molting. There is an absorption of the cal- 
careous matter on the inner surface of these joints, so that they lose 
their former rigidity and allow the passage of the parts beyond 
them. In this connection mention may be made of the “ crab- 
stones ”—small calcareous bodies occurring on either side of the 
stomach in Crustaceans about to molt. Although no definite knowl- 
edge exists as to the purpose of these masses of lime, it seems 
probable that they are stores which are to be drawn upon in harden- 
ing the new shell. Huxley thinks that this cannot be the case, 
because these bodies are of inconsiderable size in the crayfish, an 
argument of but very little weight. 
But we are wandering afar from our subject—the way in which 
lost parts are reproduced in the crabs. Until a molt occurs the 
wounded veteran has to wander about without the limbs lost in 
battle, thin stumps seared over by the film caused by the coagulated 
blood. When the molt takes place we see a change. In the place 
of the lost leg there rapidly expands a new limb, which is like the 
old one in all respects except size. It is much smaller, but at the 
next molt it becomes as large as its fellow. A curious feature con- 
nected with the molting is that the lining of the stomach is cast at 
the same time with the outer shell. 
We have explained above the reason why the fiddler crab has 
received its popular name, but he is in reality a true fiddler. Like 
many other crabs he has a means of making a noise, and the big 
claw is his musical instrument. On the inner surface of this 
member is a row of small rounded tubercles (their position varies 
with the species), and these can be rubbed against the edge of the 
shell, producing a note best likened to that caused by rubbing a 
quill toothpick over a file. 
There are other crabs concerning which the popular literature is 
much greater than that relating to the fiddlers. Possibly more has 
been written about the hermit crabs than about any others, for 
certainly no one ever visited the shore without noticing these 
curiosities. They occur in all seas from the tropics to the poles, 
but wherever found all exhibit that common characteristic which 
has given them their name. We have all heard of that old Greek 
