85 



NOTES ON DECAPODOUS CRUSTACEA 

 POUND AT REDCAR. 



Rev. W. C. HEY, M.A., 



SL Olave s Vicarage, York; President of the CoJicJiological Section of the Yorkshire 

 Naturalists' Union, and Honorary Cjirator in Concliology and Coleoptera 

 to the York Miiseian. 



When I have been collecting shells at Redcar, I have usually kept 

 my eyes open for anything in the way of Lobsters, Crabs, and Shrimps 

 that might happen to turn up. As very little attention seems as yet 

 to have been given to these creatures, so far as the Yorkshire coast 

 is concerned, these notes (which apply exclusively to Redcar) may 

 perhaps be worth a place in the Naturalist. I am aware that some 

 other species have been met with in that neighbourhood ; these notes 

 are simply the record of my own observations. 



Hyas araneus L. Far the commonest ' Spider Crab ' so far as 

 Redcar is concerned. It is abundant in rock-pools near low- 

 water mark on both East and West Scars, though as it is very 

 sluggish and consequently liable to carry a forest of sea-weed, 

 &c., upon its carapace, it is not very easy to detect. Stomachs 

 of fishes taken at Redcar are often literally crammed with this 

 species. 



Hyas coarctatus Leach. Readily distinguished from the former 

 species by the greater comparative breadth of the fore part of 

 the carapace. It appears to be a deep-water species, as I have 

 never met with it except on the fishermen's lines and in fishes' 

 stomachs. 



Cancer pagurus L. The Common Edible Crab. Very frequent on 

 the Scars under stones and in crevices of the rock. Individuals 

 may frequently be met with in such dark places which have just 

 cast their carapace and are perfectly soft to the touch. 



Pirimela denticulata Mont. A beautiful little Crab and a very 

 scarce species. I once took a single specimen on West Scar. 



Carcinus msenas Penn. The Common Dog Crab. Very abundant 

 between tide-marks. 



Portumnus variegatus Penn. This pretty dappled swimming Crab 

 is cast up upon the sands very plentifully — sometimes in numbers 

 perfectly extraordinary — although Bell considers it one of our 

 scarcer species. 



Portunus depurator Leach. — The Cleanser Swimming Crab is often 

 cast up upon the beach. It is also frequently met with in the 

 stomachs of fishes. 



March 1887. 



