356 



THAT'S IT ; 



places a pie-annet, which the people of Lancashire 

 call by no other name than a tree goose ; which 

 place aforesaid, and all those parts adjoining do 

 so much abound therewith, that one of the best 

 is bought for threepence. For the truth hereof, 

 if any doubt, may it please them to repaire unto 

 me an l I shall satisfie them by the testimony of 

 good witnesses." * 



The common crab, 6, is too 

 well known to require a descrip- 

 tion of its peculiarities of form ; 



but there are interesting facts 

 connected with the history of 

 its species, which are not com- 

 monly understood. Some few 

 species of crabs penetrate to a 

 considerable distance inland, but 

 are compelled to return to the 

 sea at the period of spawning. 

 Among the marine species, the 

 majority do not quit the shores, 

 whilst others are found at great 

 distances in the high seas, where 

 they can rest only on the floating 

 banks of sea weeds, so abundant 

 in the tropics. Some species 

 again frequent only the rocky 

 parts of the coast, while others 

 prefer sandy shoals in which 

 they bury themselves. 



The earthy matter forming their hard shells, 

 Is secreted by the muscular membrane, or 

 corium, found immediately underneath. In 

 many of the smaller Crustacea, as the prawns, 

 shrimps, &c.,«the earthy crust remains in a 

 semi-transparent, elastic, and flexible state. 



Crabs, as well as the generality of the class Crusta- 

 cea, feed upon animal matter , especially when in a 

 state of decomposition. Dead bodies, floating 

 upon the surface of the waves, or cast upon the 

 shore by them, are immediately covered with 

 these animals, and there is every reason to 

 suppose that they are attracted by their powers 

 of scent, although the seat of this sense is 

 unknown. Some of the crabs even attack 

 living prey, and fight fiercely in order to 

 procure it. In these combats they often lose 

 their claws, which are, however, soon repro- 

 duced, but they never attain the same size as 

 previously. 



The most remarkable facts in 

 connection with their history, 

 are their periodical moulting, 

 and the recently discovered meta- 

 morphoses which they undergo 

 in the early stages of their 

 existence. Some very curious 

 creatures, long regarded by na- 

 turalists as a distinct genus, 

 zoea, have been discovered to be 

 the larva* of crabs, into which 

 they ultimately become trans- 

 formed. These transformations 

 take place when the crabs are 

 of very diminutive size, little 

 larger than a flea ; and hence 

 they are not open to ordinary 



observation, but may be seen 

 with the aid of a microscope, or 

 a powerful magnifying glass. 

 At first the young crab appears 

 with a curiously helmeted head, 

 surrounded by numerous lengthy 



