FASCICULI MALATENSES 
XVII 
molluscs, crustaceans, and coelenterates abound. When the tide goes out, the 
whole shore becomes covered in a moment with vast numbers of little pinkish 
crabs, resembling the Australian genus Mycteris ; they are perpetually on the 
move, not infrequently walking right across the discs of gigantic mud-coloured 
sea anemones, which remain expanded, but very inconspicuous, in little pools 
caused by the tide swirling round their bases. Hundreds of the crabs cling to 
their tentacles, but the rest proceed on their way, without apparently learning 
by experience to avoid them. A Fatani man, who accompanied me, 
and who had never seen so many crabs together, exclaimed when I pointed 
them out to him, ' What a fine relish they would make! * and rushed forward 
to capture them, but they sank instantaneously into the sand. 1 spent several 
days on Pulau Mentia, staying in the Siamese revenue station recently established 
on the island, and obtained some interesting musical instruments and other 
specimens from a Samsam camp, where I also measured a few of the men. 
NELSON ANNANDALE 
