C R A 
C R A 
boldefl males, which march forward like pioneers, 
in order to clear the route, and oppofe threatening 
dangers : thefe are often obliged to halt for want 
of rain, and to take flieker in the moft convenient 
fpots, till an alteration of the v/eather takes place. 
The main body of the army is compofed of fe- 
males, who never leave the mountains till the rain 
has fet in for fome time ; and then they defcend in 
regular battalia, formed into columns of fifty paces 
broad, and three miles deep, and fo clofe, that very 
little of the ground can be difcovered. Three or 
four days afterwards, the rear-guard follows ; a 
ftraggling, undifciplined tribe, confiding of a mix- 
ture of males and females, neither fo robuft nor nu- 
merous as the two former columns. The night 
feafon is chiefly chofen for their march; but, Hiould 
i't happen to rain in the day-time, they do not fail 
to avail themfelves of that circumftance, moving 
forward with a flow, uniform pace. When the 
fun Ihines, fo as to warm the furface of the ground, 
they make a general halt, and patiently wait the 
cool of the evening. When frightened, they march 
backward in a diforderly manner, holding up their 
nippers, with v/hich they frequently lacerate the 
fiefh of their adverfaries, and fometimes leave thefe 
weapons, as we have already obferved, in the wounds 
inflifted by them. They even try to intimidate 
their enemies, by clattering their nippers together, 
as if to threaten thofe who prefume to diflurb them. 
But though they thus make a fhew of being for- 
midable to man, they are far from living in amity 
with each other; for no fooner is one of their num- 
ber maimed by accident, or worn out v/ith fatigue, 
than the refl: fall on it, devour it on the fpot, and 
then purfue their journey. 
After having encountered a thoufand dangers, 
and continued their march fometimes for two or 
three months, they at length arrive at their def- 
tined port, where they prepare to cafl; their fpawn. 
The fcetus, if it may be fo called, is yet within 
their bodies, and not placed under their tails, as is 
ufual in animals of this kind; for thefe creatures 
wait till they can have the benefit of fea-water to 
afllft their delivery. For this purpofe, they no 
fooner reach the fhore, than they eagerly advance 
to tlie water's edg-e, and fuff'er the waves to wafli 
their bodies two or three times. This, however, 
feems only preparatory to their bringing their 
■fpawn to maturity ; for they prefently withdraw to 
the land, in order to fearch for a lodging-place ; 
and, in the mean time, their fpawn grows larger, 
is excluded out of their bodies, and fl:icks to the 
"barbs under their tails; and thefe protuberances foon 
become as large as hens eggs, and exaflly refem- 
ble the roes of herrings. In this advanced flrate of 
pregnancy, they once more feek the fliore, and 
fhake ofl^ their fpawn into the v/ater. At this time 
whole flioals of hungry flfli are impatiently wait- 
ing for this annual fupply ; the fea appears difco^ 
loured with them for a confiderable fpace; and 
above two-thirds of the Crabs eggs are immedi- 
ately devoured by thefe rapacious invaders. Thofe 
eggs, however, which efcape them, are hatched un- 
der the fand; and in a very fliort time mjllions of 
thefe little animals are feen to quit the fhore, and 
to advance in flow pioceffion to the mountains. 
The old ones Iiaving dius difcharged the grand 
duty of irrational nature, fet out on their return; 
but they are now become fo very feeble and ema- 
ciated, that they can hardly creep along,, and even 
their flefh affumes a different colour. The gene- 
rality of them, therefore^ are obliged to continue 
in the flat parts of the country till their flrength is* 
recruited, making holes for themfelves in the earth, 
which they cover with leaves and dirt, in order ta 
prevent the admiflion of air. In thefe retreats 
they throw off their old fhells, which they leave 
in a manner entire, the places where they opened 
on their bellies being unfeen. At that time they 
are quite naked, and almofl without motion, for 
fix days together; after which they become fo fat, 
as to be very delicious food; and have under 
their flomachs four large white flones, which gra- 
dually decreafe as their fhells harden; and, when 
arrived at perfedlion, are no longer perceptible. 
The animals then make their way backward with 
a flow pace, and generally perform their journey 
in the fpace of fix weeks. 
When the Crab is reinftated in it's mountainous 
retreat, it is almoft impofTible to diflodge it; for, 
fubflfting only on vegetables, it feldom ventures 
abroad ; and it's habitation being in general inac- 
ceffible, it remains there during a great part of the 
feafon in perfe6t fecurity; and at thofe times only, 
when impelled by the defire of bringing forth it's 
young it is forced to defcend into the flat coun- 
try, does it fall under the power of man. At fuch 
feafons the natives wait for the defcent of thefe 
creatures with eager expedation, and deflroy num- 
bers of them ; but, difrcgarding their bodies, they 
only fearch for that fmall quantity of fpawn which 
lies on each fide of their flomachs within their 
fhells. 
Thefe animals, indeed, are more valuable on 
their return, after having flied their exuvise; for, 
being covered with fliins refembling foft parch- 
ment, almofl: all their parts, except their flomachs, 
are edible. They are taken in their holes by 
means of inflruments adapted to that purpofe; and 
are alfo traced by night, when on their journies, 
with flambeaux. The infl:ant they are attacked, 
they throw themfelves on their backs, and with 
their claws pinch their enemies mofl unmercifully. 
But dextrous Crab-catchers feize them by their 
hinder legs, in fuch a manner that their nippers 
cannot hurt them, and thus throw diem into their 
bags. 
The natives derive confiderable advantage from 
thefe creatures; and flaves are often endrely fub- 
fifled on them. In Jamaica, Vv^here they are found 
in abundance, they are regarded as a very great 
delicacy. Still, however, the eating of them is 
attended with Ibmc danger; for, even of this kind,, 
many prove poifonous, which quality they are fup- 
pofed to derive from feeding on the iTsachineel ap- 
ple ; and, whenever they are found under that noxi- 
ous plant, they are always rejedled. 
Crab, Soldier. This creature, when divefted 
of it's fnell, fomewhat refembles the lobfter. It 
is ufually about four inches long; and hasnofheli 
behind, but is covered down to the very tail with 
a rough fl<in terminating in a point: it is, how- 
ever, armed with ftrong hard nippers before, the 
only cruftaceous parts which it contains. But, what 
nature has denied this animal, it has taken care to 
fupply by art; and, taking pofTefTion of the de- 
feried (htW of fome other animal, reiides in it till 
it's increal'ed fize requires a larger covering. 
This fpecies is found in the Weft India iflands; 
and> like the Violet-Crab, annually defcends fj-om 
the mountains to the fea-fiiore, in order to depofit 
it's fpav/n, and provide itfelf with a new fljell. 
This feems to be a very aftive period in the life of 
this animal . and probably it's firfl care is ta provide 
for 
