ON CRUSTACEA. 
295 
ways, sometimes to tlie right, sometimes to the left, accord- 
ing to circumstances. They live, like the other Crustacea, on 
the flesh of other animals which they find dead, or which they 
can seize alive, catching them with their claws or pincers.” 
“ The grapsus cinereus, which I have likewise observed, 
lives in rivers to which the tide of the sea ascends, or to speak 
more correctly, on their edges ; for it is more frequently out of 
than in the water. When any one appears in the places where 
they have assembled, and their assemblies are in general very 
numerous, they escape into the water, making a great noise 
with their feet, which they strike one against the other. 
“ The females of these two species of grapsi lay their eggs 
in spring, the period in which they commence to re-appear, 
for during the winter the first remains at the bottom of the 
sea, and the second, doubtless, buried in the mud.” 
The grapsus cinereus often comes on the shore, or on rocks, 
to sport or bask in the sun, according to the report of the 
same writer. 
This genus is tolerably numerous in species, spread over 
the maritime coasts of the warm climates of both continents. 
New Holland furnishes a good many. 
The grapsus varius lies in the holes of rocks on the shores 
of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. It issues forth from 
them to receive the rays of the sun, but regains its retreat on 
the slightest appearance of danger, and fastens itself with so 
much force with its feet, that it is very difficult to make it 
let go. 
Among the orbicular crabs, the Maia is very common on 
the coasts of the Mediterranean, where it generally receives 
the name of sea-spider. It is one of the largest of the Crus- 
tacea, and is the maia of the ancient Greeks, which is figured 
on some of their medals. They attributed to it a great 
degree of wisdom, and believed that it was sensible to the 
charms of music. 
