71 
^VlDEFOOT. P. Latipes. M. Edwards’ Crust., vol. 1., p. 
436. Portunus Variegatns, Leach’s Malac., pi. 4. 
POLYBIUS : all the legs having the terminal arti- 
culation wide, oval and thin, well formed for swimming. 
Nipper crab, swimming crab. p. nensiowii. 
M. Edwards' Crust., vol. 1, p. 439. Leach’s Malac. pi. 9. 
This is, more than any of the others, a swimming crab : for 
"'hilst the other British species of this family are only able 
to shoot themselves along from one low prominence to another, 
l lte Nipper crab, as our fishermen term it, mounts to the sur- 
face over the deepest water in pursuit of its prey ; among 
tvhich are numbered the most active fishes, as the Mackarel 
and Rauning Pollock ; the skin of which it pierces with its sharp 
P'ncers keeping its hold until the terrified victim becomes ex- 
hausted. We are witnesses to this enrious method of obtaining 
food in the summer only, at which season the fishermen's nets 
intercept them and their prey together ; and it is probable 
that in colder weather they keep at the bottom in deep water ; 
from which however I have never seen them brought in the 
sf omachs of fishes. So far as my observation extends, it is 
chiefly or only the male that pursues this actively predaceous 
existence; but that for a time they also remain quietly at the 
n°ttom, appears from the fact that while for the most part the 
*niooth and flattened carapace is clean, I have seen it covered 
"ith small corallines (sertulari®,) 
Genus POR TUNtJS: the terminal articulation of the three 
hinder legs stvliform. Moveable stem of the outer antenna-, 
composed of "only two articulations, and inserted on the 
same line with the eyes and inner antennae; their basilar 
articulation fixed in front and entirely separating the orbit 
and cavity of the antennte. 
VELVET CRAB. P . Puber. M. Edwards’ Crust., vol. 1., 
p. 441. Leach’s Malac. pi. 6. Cancer Velutinus, Pennant, 
Pl> 4, fig. 8. 
This is the largest British species of the family, sometimes 
Measuring 4 or 5 inches across the carapace. It is also the 
" m ° s t active and fierce, running with great agility on the ap- 
pearance of dahger, but stopping and assuming the attitude of 
''efence when closely pressed. It seizes an enemy in an in- 
* ta «t, and holds with tenacity. The largest keep in water of 
tl ‘e depth of a few fathoms, and the smaller about low water 
n ‘ a rk, among stones; beneath which they shelter themselves. 
^IARy CRAB. P. PHcatus. M. Edwards’ Crust,, vol. 1, 
P- 442. P. Depurator, Leach’s Malac., pi, 9. Pennant, 
Ph 4, fig. 6, a. Common, and with much of the habits of 
the last species. There is some difficulty in assigning the 
Proper synonyms to this and the two following species, 
