PORTUNUS. 
47 
covered, as well as the following, with a dense pile, inter- 
rupted by raised longitudinal lines, which are granular on 
the hands and smooth on the hind legs. 
Not uncommon on the south-west coast of England, and 
on the Irish coast. In Scotland the Rev. G. Harris has 
taken it in the Moray Eirth. Mr. Norman says that it is 
eaten and considered a great delicacy in the Channel Islands, 
where it is known as the Lady Crab . That gentleman says 
that hundreds of them may frequently be seen on the shore, 
the refuse of the lobster pots ; and he has likewise frequently 
taken it under stones at low water off Tenby, and in the 
Eirth of Clyde. 
Erom Mr. Gosse’s ‘ Aquarium 9 (p. 195) we derive the 
following description : — “ An old male of the Yelvet Eiddler 
is a striking and handsome Crab. His body generally is 
clothed with a short velvety pile of a pale brown or drab 
hue, from beneath w r hich here and there shines out the 
glossy deep black shell, especially where rubbed, as at the 
edges. The feet, particularly the plates of the oars, are 
conspicuously striped with black ; the large and formidable 
claws are marked with bright scarlet and azure, as are also 
the foot-jaws and face, while the eyes are of the richest ver- 
milion, projecting from hollow black sockets.” This species, 
