the Harper-crab, or sea-toad. 
44i 
is elongated and very deeply cleft, so as to form a forked protuberance. The body is rounded 
at the base, and small in proportion to the limbs, though the apparent disproportion is not so 
marked as in the Leptopodia. This species is a native of the Philippines. The genus to 
which this creature belongs does not seem to be very large, only three, or perhaps four species, 
being known. 
Still keeping to the same family, we come to a curious genus containing some very 
remarkable creatures, among which the Doclea calcitrapa is one of the most notable. 
In this genus the beak is comparatively small, but still contains the cleft tip, although 
the notch is not nearly so deep as in other members of this family. The claws are of consider- 
able size and power, and the legs are long and furnished with an array of stiff bristles. The 
chief peculiarity, however, which most strikes the sight, not to say the touch, is the formidable 
display of long and pointed spikes, which radiate from the body like the spines of a hedgehog. 
The eyes are not very prominent, being set on rather short footstalks, and nearly concealed by 
the projection from the shelly covering. This genus seems to be widely spread over the hotter 
portions of the globe, specimens having been taken off the Mauritius, in China, India, and the 
Philippines, of which latter locality the present species is a native. 
All the crabs of this family are marine, and prefer the deeper parts of the sea, where they 
lurk among the waving masses of sea- weeds, or crawl upon the oyster banks. As might be 
imagined from the length and slenderness of their limbs, they are but slow of progress, and 
seem to tumble over the ground in a very unsteady manner. Still, their long limbs are 
admirably calculated for the peculiar substances on which they pass their lives, and they 
are able to stride, as it were, over obstacles which would seriously encumber a creature 
with shorter legs. Their food consists almost wholly of small mollusks and other marine 
animals. 
We now come to another family wherein many of the same characteristics are preserved, 
but the legs are of moderate size. These creatures are popularly known by the name of 
Spider-crabs, and scientifically are termed Maiadse. 
We will describe a few examples of this genus. The Gouty Crab has been gifted with 
its very appropriate name on account of the knobby and swollen limbs, which give it an aspect 
as if it were suffering from the painful but unpitied disease from which it derives its name. 
The specific title of Chiragra is of Greek origin, and bears a similar signification. The Gouty 
Crab is known to be an inhabitant of the Mediterranean, and is thought also to be a native of 
the West Indian seas. 
A creature which looks as if it had been made almost at random out of a thistle-bud and a 
handful of thorns, is known under the name of Thobfback Chorifus ( CTiorinus accmtho- 
notus). This species can hardly be mistaken for any other, on account of its altogether 
eccentric shape, and the branching spines which spring on every side from its body and the 
joints of its limbs. It is but feebly provided with claws, these members being little larger 
than the ordinary limbs ; and the eyes stand out on tolerably long footstalks. 
Nearly related to these species, we find two moderately common European crustaceans, 
which are interesting in their habits, though not particularly pleasing in their aspect. One of 
these is the Foub-iiorfed Spider-crab (Arctopsis tetraodon ), a rather long legged creature 
that seems to be very local in its habits, being rarely or never seen in some localities, while in 
others it is found in vast numbers. This crab generally hides itself under the overhanging 
masses of fuci which cover the submerged rocks, and thence is fond of descending into the 
lobster and crab pots, and so is made captive by the fishermen. The color of this species is 
yellow, and the body and greater part of the limbs are densely covered with thick hair. The 
male is larger than the female. 
The second species is the Harper-crab, or Great Spider-crab, or Sea-toad {Hyas 
araneus ), as it is sometimes called. This is commonly found on nearly all the coasts of 
Northern Europe, and prefers to range among the weeds just about the zone beneath low- water 
mark. It is one of the day-feeders, and will often leave the waves for the purpose of feeding 
upon the fish and other animal substances that have been flung upon the shore by the tide. 
VOL. in.- 56. 
