610 
ARTICULATA 
the shell of his host, not only gave him timely notice of any approaching danger, but also pro- 
cm'ed him his food. There are several American species of the genus Pinnotheres. 
The most remarkable members of this family are the Land-Crahs of tropical climates, which 
are furnished with a peculiar apparatus of 
leaflets, for retaining moisture in the inte- 
rior of their branchial cavities. Many of 
these animals live upon the sides of moun- 
tains, at a considerable distance from the sea, 
which, however, they regularly visit once 
a year for the purpose of depositing their 
eggs. In their migrations they, sometimes 
form a procession one hundred and fifty feet 
wide and three miles in length. They 
abound in Jamaica, where they are esteemed 
excellent food. They generally select moist 
localities for their terrestrial residence. 
Here they excavate considerable burrows, 
in w^hich they conceal themselves during 
the day, roaming about at night in search 
of food. But some, such as the Gecarcini, 
are said to inhabit dry woods. 
The Violet Crab, Cardisoma carnifex, 
which usually inhabits the mangrove 
swamps of the West Indian Islands, lives principally upon the fruit of a species of Annona, which 
grows in those places. But nothing comes amiss to it. Those individuals whose residence is in 
the neighborhood of the cemeteries are said to burrow down to get at the dead bodies, and Dr. 
Duchassaing tells us that the West Indian burial grounds are pierced in every direction by the 
burrows of these animals. Nevertheless the Violet Crab is regarded as a luxurious article of food 
by the West Indians, who, however, take care only to eat those which live in the mangrove 
swamps, as far as possible from the cemeteries. They are caught in box rat-traps baited with a 
piece of their favorite fruit ; and after their capture they are usually kept some time and fattened 
with broken victuals. 
Another group of Land-Crabs, the Gelasimi, are distinguished by the large size of one of their 
claws, which they hold up in a menacing attitude as they retreat from any object that has 
inspired them with alarm. From the beckoning action of this claw the Gelasimi have received 
the name of Calling- Crabs. They make great use of it also in forming their burrows, bringing 
up small pinches of sand or earth every now and then, and scattering these waste materials to a 
considerable distance round their hole, so as to avoid the presence of an unsightly heap at the 
entrance of their domicile. An American species, very common on our coasts, the Gelasimus 
vocans, is commonly called the Fiddler, from the shape of one of its claws or fingers, which re- 
sembles the bow of a fiddler. It remains closed up in its hole during winter. Though living on 
the land, it seems to be at home in the water. The Thelpkiisce are also Land-Crabs, yet some 
of the species inhabit fresh water. 
ORDER 2. STOMAPODA. 
This order is composed of some singular animals, which appear to have relations with all the 
other groups of Crustacea, and of course exhibit a corresponding diversity of structure among 
themselves. 
The family of Phyllosomidce are animals of an extraordinarily flattened form, with the shell thin 
and transparent ; the body is apparently divided into two parts — a longish or oval cephalothorax, 
bearing the eyes, which are supported upon long, slender stalks, the short antennae, and the 
THE RED SEA CEAB — ^LUPEA PELAGICA. 
