THE CRAB. 
207 
linger while the crab is making off*. In fact it loses no 
great matter by leaving a leg or an arm, for they soon mow 
again, and the animal is found as perfect as before. 
This, however , is the least surprising part of this creature’s 
instory : and what we are going to relate, were it not as well 
known and as confidently confirmed as any other circum- 
stance in Natural History, might well stagger our belief. 
Ihese animals live not only in a kind of society in their 
retreats in the mountains, but regularly once a year march 
down to the sea-side in a body of some millions at a time 
As they multiply in great numbers, they choose the months 
of April or May to begin their expedition ; and then sally 
out by thousands from the stumps of hollow trees, from 
ie clifts of rocks, and from the holes which they dio- f 0I 
themselves under the surface of the earth. At that” time 
the whole ground is covered with this band of adventurers 
there is no setting down one’s foot without treading upon 
them, Hie sea is the place of destination, and to tlmt they 
direct their march with right-lined precision. No geome- 
trician could send them to their destined station by a shorter 
course ; they neither turn to the right or left, whatever ob- 
stacles intervene; and even if they meet with a house, they 
will attempt to scale the walls to keep the unbroken tenor 
of their way. But though this be the general order of their 
'■oute, they upon other occasions are compelled to conform 
to the lace of the country; and if it be intersected by 
'•vers, they are then seen to wind along the course of the 
stream J lie procession sets forward from the mountains 
ith the regularity of an army under the guidance of an 
experienced commander. They are commonly divided into 
iree i battalions; ol which the first consists of the strongest 
and boldest males Jiat, like pioneers, march forward to clear 
tne route and face ihe greatest dangers. These are often 
li^eci to halt for want of rain, and go into the most con- 
enient encampment till the weather changes. The main 
ody of the army is composed of females, which neyer leave 
ie mountains till the rain is set in for some time, and then 
escend in regular battalia, being formed into columns of 
my paces broad, and three miles deep, and so close that 
ley almost cover the ground. Three or four days after this 
e rear-guard follows ; a straggling, undisciplined tribe 
nsisting of males and females, but neither so robust nor 
numerous as the former. The night is their chief time 
Jr eC ! ln S ’ ^ rains by day, they do not fail to 
t by the occasion ; and they continue to move forward 
* Brown’s Jamaica, p. 423. 
