24 
HISTORY OF BRITISH CRUSTACEA. 
Gen. 6. MAI A, Lam. 
Outer antennae with the movable stem inserted within 
the inner canthus of the orbit, and exposed to view. Cara- 
pace oval, somewhat pointed in front; beak very strong, 
formed of two diverging horns ; carapace, especially on the 
sides, with spines and tubercles. Front legs, even in the 
male, scarcely longer than the others, the fingers pointed at 
the end. Abdomen, in both sexes, of seven joints. 
Maia Squijsado, Herbst. sp. Thorn-hack Crab . (Plate II. 
fig. 1.) — Carapace of a roundish-oval form, covered with 
sharp spines ; beak prominent, its two horns slightly diverg- 
ing. Found abundantly on many parts of our coasts. 
The Kev. Charles Kingsley^ gives the following lively 
picture of the important services of this Crab as a remover of 
nuisances. “ In the boat, silent and neglected, sat a fellow- 
passenger who was a greater adept at removing nuisances 
than the whole Board of Health put together ; and who had 
done his work, too, with a cheapness unparalleled ; for all 
his good deeds had not as yet cost the State one penny. 
True, he lived by his business; so do other inspectors of 
nuisances : but nature, instead of paying Maia Squinado, 
* Glaucus ; or, the Wonders of the Shore, pp. 133-135. 
