^S6 APTERA. 
Mother. A sufficient number of eg^% 
arc thrown up by the waves on the sand, 
where they are quickly hatched ; and, in 
a short time, a multitude of little crabs 
are seen slowly journeying up the country 
to the hills. In the mean time the old 
crabs, having been too much fatigued to 
return immediately, secure themselves in 
holes in the earth ; there they cast their 
old shells, and remain concealed till their 
new covering has acquired a certain con- 
sistency. They begin then to travel 
homeward to the mountains, and at this 
period, having grown fat, while at rest, 
they are reckoned very good eating. 
They are shaped like our common crab, 
and but seldom exceed six inches in 
breadth : some are dark, some are light 
coloured, and others variegated. 
Lucy, Are there many other species 
that live on shore ? 
Mother. Very few ; and they differ 
but little from the ruricola. 
The next species of the cancer family, 
which I shall describe, is the cancer gamma- 
