544 Crustacea. 
siderable and essential difference between them and the 
lobsters, prawns, shrimps, and crayfish. , 
The most remarkable circumstance in the history of 
these animals is the changing of their shells and the 
renewal of their broken claws. The former, as it is 
stated, take place once a year, and usually between 
Christmas and Easter. During the operation they retire 
among the cavities of rocks, and under great stones. 
Crabs are naturally quarrelsome amongst themselves, 
and frequently have serious contests, by means of those 
formidable weapons, their great claws. With these 
they lay hold of their adversary's legs ; and wherever 
they seize, it is not easy to make them forego their 
hold. The animal seized has, therefore, no other al- 
ternative but to leave part of the leg behind in token 
of victory. 
An experiment was tried to prove the extremely 
tenacious disposition of the Crab. By irritating it, a 
fisherman made a Crab seize one of its own small claws 
with a large one. The animal did not distinguish that 
it was itself the aggressor, but exerted its strength, and 
soon cracked the shell of the small claw. Feeling itself 
wounded, it cast off the piece in the usual place, but 
continued to hold it with the great claw for a long time 
afterwards. 
The Violet Land-Crabs of the Caribbee Islands aro 
