114 
ANIMAL CURIOSITIES 
through such a formidable outer casing would 
be rather unreasonable. 
How then does the crab manage to get at 
the kernel ? 
First of all it selects a nut that has fallen 
from the tree top and been broken asunder 
from its outer casing. It then commences 
to tear away the fibrous growth upon the 
shell that covers the three “ eye-holes ” situated 
upon one end, and when these have been 
exposed it hammers upon them with its power¬ 
ful claws until a hole is made right through. 
The extraction of the contents of the nut is 
then proceeded with by means of the smaller 
claws. 
The robber crab is diurnal in habits, and 
visits the sea at intervals for the purpose of 
moistening its gills. Why it should have 
received its disparaging name is hard to say, 
for the act of securing its food can hardly be 
described as robbery. 
If, however, any crab should be so designa¬ 
ted, a species found in the Azores, known as 
the graspus, is the most suitable one to select. 
The animal dwells amidst the crevices of 
rocks, and is stated to be able to clamber up 
the face of almost perpendicular cliffs with 
ease. Should it happen to come across the 
nest of a tern during its peregrinations it does 
