•APTE R 
rent fpecies of the marine polypus. Some authors 
aflfert that the crab changes its ftomach and inteftines 
at the fame time with its {kin ; and that the firft food 
it takes is that ftomach when it recovers fo as to becdn 
o 
again to eat. Darwin fays that a hard-fhelled crab 
always {lands centinel to prevent the fea infefls from 
injuring the reft in their defencelefs ftate ; and that 
the fifhermen from his appearance know where to 
find the foft ones, which they ufe for fifh-bait : 
adding —“ and though the hard-fhelled crab,'when he 
is'oh this duty, advances boldly to meet the foe, and 
will with difficulty quit the field ; yet at other times 
fee fhews great timidity, and has a wonderful {peed in 
making his efcape ; and if often interrupted, will 
pretend death and watch an opportunity to fink him- 
felf into the fand, keeping only his eyes above .' 9 
* 
There are feveral fpecies. 
The lobfier is well known, and the circumftance of 
lofmg its claws at thunder claps, or the found of can¬ 
non ; fo that fifhermen are jeftingly threatened with a 
falute by the fea-men ; the reftoration of their claws 
is likewife to be obferved, as they never grow quite to 
the fame fize. 
>' ■ _ » 
The Cancer Parafiticu'S) 
Of this there are feveral fpecies* They are very 
finall, and their fhells fo tender as to be very liable to 
injury: inllinft direfts them to (belter themfelves in 
muflels* 
I 
