CRAB. 
$38 
They subsist on vegetables, and seldom venture 
from their retreats : their habitations may therefore 
be considered as almost impregnable, as they live 
in the most inaccessible parts of the mountains, and 
never go far from home, except when they are im- 
pelled by the desire of bringing forth their young 
to descend towards the sea. At that time the na- 
tives wait for them and destroy thousands, but dis- 
regard their bodies, and only seek for the spawn 
which lies on each side the stomach within the shell. 
They are much more valuable upon their return, 
when the skin being soft, almost every part of them 
may be eaten. 
They are either taken in their holes by feeling 
for them with an instrument, or caught by torch- 
light, in the night, while on their journey. When- 
ever they are attacked they throw themselves upon 
their backs, and pinch very severely with their 
claws whatever they happen to fasten on. But 
the dextrous crab-catcher, aware of their inten- 
tion, secures them by the hind legs in such a man- 
ner that their nippers cannot touch him, and then 
throws them into his bag. Sometimes, also, they 
are caught when they take refuge at the bottom of 
holes in rocks by the sea-side, by preventing their 
return till the tide flows and drowns them in their 
holes. In Jamaica these crabs are found in great 
plenty, and wherever they appear are of considera- 
ble advantage to the poor inhabitants, who almost 
live upon them during the time they stay upon the 
coast. They sometimes, however, prove dangerous 
