Chap. XIII.] THE CALLING CRAB. 
477 
animal gently forwards. This Julus is harmless, and 
may be handled with perfect impunity. Its food con- 
sists chiefly of fruits and the roots and stems of suc- 
culent, vegetables, its jaws not being framed for any 
more formidable purpose. Another and a very pretty 
species \ quite as black, but with a bright crimson band 
down the back, and the legs similarly tinted, is common 
in the gardens about Colombo and throughout the 
western province. 
^'Ceustacea. — The seas around Ceylon abound with 
marine articulata ; but a knowledge of the Crustacea of 
the island is at present a desideratum; and with the 
exception of the few commoner species that frequent 
the shores, or are offered in the markets, we are literally 
without information, excepting the little that can be 
gleaned from already published systematic works. 
In the bazaars several species of edible crabs are ex- 
posed for sale ; and amongst the delicacies at the tables 
of Europeans, curries made from prawns and lobsters are 
the triumphs of the Ceylon cuisine. Of these latter 
the fishermen sometimes exhibit specimens 2 of extra- 
Calling Crabs 3 scamper over the moist sands, carrying 
aloft the enormous hand (sometimes larger than the 
CALLING CRAB OF CEYLON 
ordinary dimensions and of 
a beautiful purple hue, 
variegated with white. 
Along the level shore north 
and south of Colombo, and 
in no less profusion else- 
where, the nimble little 
1 Julus carnifex, Fab. 
2 Palinurus omatus, Fab. 
P— n. s. 
3 Gelasimus tetragonon 1 Echv. ; 
G. annulipes 1 Edw. ; G. Dussu- 
mieri 1 Edw. 
