182 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
occasion I saw a huge fellow entangled in a draw-net. It had 
killed a large Sole, and was still holding it with vicious grip. 
Cromer, forty miles northward, with its stony bottom, is a 
favourite rendezvous of this species. An example weighing 24 lb. 
was taken on a line off Britannia Pier. An illustration of an 
abnormal development in the pincer-claw of one of the Crabs 
was given in ‘ The Zoologist’ of last year (p. 340). 
Portumnus depurator. Swimming Crab. C.—In the warmer 
months this voracious species is found most abundantly off this 
coast. It is a most troublesome take both in the draw and 
shrimp-nets. In the former it becomes woefully entangled ; in 
the takes of the latter it is a most unwelcome intruder, being 
eager and alert to nip the fingers deftly sorting over the catches 
of more valuable crustaceans. I have on occasions observed 
this species swimming near the surface upon the flood-tide up 
the Bure. 
P. variegatus. Pennant’s Swimming Crab. R.—I have met 
with but very few specimens of this Crab ; have taken it from a 
Cod’s maw, and on one or two occasions found examples at the 
tide-mark. 
Carcinus menas. Shore Crab. A.—Locally known as “Sea- 
Sammy.” This species is most abundant, even extending its 
travels to the fresher waters up-river. On one occasion I knew 
one solitary fellow who lived fairly comfortably in a marsh-ditch 
not far from the Bure. He was an exceedingly interesting little 
fellow to watch in his strange quarters. Every Yarmouth boy 
knows and delights in hunting this species, using any vile animal 
substance as a bait that may be picked up in the gutter on the 
way to the river. Not a few children’s lives have been sacrificed 
to their love of the sport. As the ‘‘ green’’ Shore Crab the name 
is ambiguous, for highly coloured red examples are as common 
as those with green-tinted carapaces. No use is locally made of 
Carcinus, who, however, is a most useful little creature at home, 
making sepulchre for the many carcases of animals and birds, 
e.g. cats, pigeons, fish refuse, &c., that would otherwise in the 
neighbourhood become a decided nuisance. In turn this Crab is 
provokingly fond of the tempting morsels used by salt-water 
anglers, on Breydon especially. Myriads of small ones are 
devoured yearly by Gulls, Herons, and other birds; and Codlings 
