The Hijlory of Book I. 



tain, and as delicate as that of the River-Crevices : They are 

 feldom feeri in the day time} but in the night they come in 

 multitudes out of their holes to feed under the Trees } and it 

 is then that they are taken with the help of a Lanthorn or 

 Torches: They delight very much to be under the Arched- 

 Indian-Fig-tree, and other Trees which are on the Sea-fide, 

 and in themoft fenny places .* If a man (hall fearch into the 

 ground, orinthefand to get them out of their lurking places, 

 he (hall always find half their bodies in water, as moft of the 

 other amphibious creatures are. 



PAINTED-CRABS. 



BUt thofe of the third kind, which as to bulk is between 

 the two others before mentioned, are the moft beautiful, 

 the moft to be admired, and the moft efteem'd of all : They 

 are indeed much of the fame figure with the precedent } but 

 according to the feveral Iflands, aud different foils wherein 

 they are bred, they are painted with Co many colours, and 

 thofe fo beautiful and lively, that there cannot be a greater di- 

 vertifement then to fee thefe creatures at mid-day creeping un- 

 der the Trees where they feek for their fuftenance : Of fome of 

 them the bodies are of a violet colour intermixt with white : 

 others are cf a bright yellow interlaced with leveral fmall 

 greyifh and purple lines, which begin at the mouth and are 

 drawn down over the back : Nay there are fome which upon a 

 dark-colour'd ground are ftreaked with red, yellow and 

 green, which makes thericheft mixture of colours that can be 

 imagin'd 5 looking on them at a little diftance a man would 

 think, that all thofe delightful colours wherewith they are na- 

 turally enamell'd, were not yet fully dry, fuch is their bright- 

 nefs, or that they were newly varnilh'd over to give them the 

 greater luftre. 



Thefe Patnted Crabs are not like the white ones, which dare 

 not appear in the day time } for thefe are to be ften morning 

 and evening, and after the rains under the Trees, where they 

 recreate themfelves in great companies together : They will 

 alfo fuffer a man to come neer enough to them 5 but as loon as 

 they perceive him make any attempt to take them (which is 

 beftdone with a little wand, it being too dangerous to employ 

 the hands) they make their retreat without turning their backs 

 on thofe that purfue them, and as they go back they (hew their 

 teeth, and opening their defensives, which are thofe two 

 Claws or Mordants they have in their feet, they therewith de- 

 fend their whole body, and they ever and anon ftrike them one 

 againft another to frighten their enemies: And inthatpofture 

 they get into their forts, which are commonly under the root, 

 or in the cleft of fome rotten Tree, or that of fome rock. 



Thefe 



