478 



ARTICULATA. 



[Chap. XIII. 



rest of the body), which is their peculiar characteristic, 

 and which, from its beckoning gesture has suggested 

 their popular name. They hurry to conceal themselves 

 in the deep retreats which they hollow out in the banks 

 that border the sea. 



Sand Grabs. — In the same localities, or a little farther 

 inland, the Ocypode 1 burrows in the dry soil, making 

 deep excavations, bringing up literally armfulls of sand; 

 which with a spring in the air, and employing its other 

 limbs, it jerks far from its burrows, distributing it in 

 a circle to the distance of several feet. 2 So inconve- 

 nient are the operations of these industrious pests that 

 men are kept regularly employed at Colombo in filling 

 up the holes formed by them on the surface of the 

 Glalle face. This, the only equestrian promenade of the 

 capital, is so infested by these active little creatures 

 that accidents often occur through horses stumbling in 

 their troublesome excavations. 



Painted Crabs. — On the reef of rocks which lies to 

 the south of the harbour at Colombo, the beautiful little 

 painted crabs 3 , distinguished by dark red markings on a 

 yellow ground, may be seen all day long running nimbly 

 in the spray, and ascending and descending in security 

 the almost perpendicular sides of the rocks which are 

 washed by the waves. Paddling Crabs 4 , with the hind 

 pair of legs terminated by flattened plates to assist them 

 in swimming, are brought up in the fishermen's nets. 

 Hermit Crabs take possession of the deserted shells of 

 the univalves, and crawl in pursuit of garbage along 

 the moist beach. Prawns and shrimps furnish deli- 



1 Ocypode ceratophthalmus, Pall. 3 Grapsus strigosus, Herbst. 



2 Ann. Nat. Hist. April, 1852. Neptunus pelagicus, Linn. ; N. 

 Paper by Mr. Edgar L. Layard. sanguinolentus, Herbst, &c. &c. 



