54 
THE LIVING WORLD. 
WOOLLY CRAB. 
attached to them, certain fungi until the moulting of the creature sets its 
limbs tree. 
The Woolly Crab is a deep-sea animal, principally confined to the Mediter¬ 
ranean, distinguished for the thick coating of fine hair which covers the cara- 
pax. The claws are small, and elevated on the 
back in a most grotesque and apparently awkward 
manner. The posterior legs terminate in a hooked 
nail, by which the creature can grasp its prey 
firmly, or attach itself to any object with con¬ 
siderable tenacity. 
The Mask Crab is found in the India seas, 
but haunts the shores, where it lies concealed in 
the sand with only its antennae and eyes exposed, 
watching for its prey like the ant-lion. The 
claws are well developed and possess great 
muscular power, which enables it to destroy creatures much larger than itself. 
The name is given on account of the singular markings on the carapax, thought 
to resemble the features of a man’s face. 
The Crested Crab is most common about Japan shores, frequently coming 
out upon the land in quest of food. When surprised it folds its legs and 
appears rigid, very much like the tumble-bug, in which position it so nearly 
resembles a stone as often to deceive those even who are familiar with its 
appearance and habits. 
The Armed Crab belongs about the Florida reefs, where it is quite com¬ 
mon. The name has been applied because of the armament of its shell with 
long and very sharp spines’, making it dangerous to handle. 
The Fighting Crab (Gelasimus beliator ) makes his abode in marshy places 
near the sea coast, where he burrows to a considerable depth, but is often on 
the surface. It is distinguished by having one huge, abnormally developed 
claw, which may be either the right or left, while the other is extremely small 
and apparently unserviceable except to steady the animal when walking. The 
name is appropriately applied, for 
he is a pugnacious creature, and 
always spoiling for a fight. When 
running, the large claw is held 
aloft in a menacing manner, or 
occasionally waving as if signalling 
the approach of another of its 
species. As the Latin name sig¬ 
nifies, the animal is so grotesque 
as to provoke laughter. Another 
singularity exists in the very long 
foot-stalks upon which the eyes 
are placed, being somewhat longer 
in proportion than the projecting eyes of the snail. At times these crabs appear 
in such numbers as to fairly encumber the ground, but however thickly they 
may be distributed their movements are so harmonious as to always seem 
preconcerted, by which interference is avoided. When alarmed they move 
with the precision of soldiers, advancing and retreating in files of heavy 
WEST INDIA LAND CRAB. 
