The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-23

Some Pecuiiarities OF these Queer Crus-
taceans.


~There are ever SO many curious kinds
of crabs in the world" said a naturalist
the other day. "Not the least interesting
species is that of the funny little fiddlers,
which are found all along the Atlantic
coast OF the United States. They inhabit
the marshes near the seashore, and often
they are seen in numerous companies, and
even regiments wandering over the mud
dy or sandy flats, where they make their
homes. When disturbed they quickly
scamper in every direction, seeking the
nearest holes, and often falling to dis
criminate i'm their choice of refuge. I'M
der such conditions you will frequently
observe the rightful owner of burrow
in the act Of ejecting one or more intrud-
ers.
"The burrows which fiddler crabs live
in are nearly or quite verticle holes for o
foot or more in depth, after which they
take a horizontal turn, each one ending
in chamber, where the occupant stays
most of the time when not looking
around for food. These queer crusta-
ceans are vegetable feeders, depending
chiefly for diet upon small plants of a
seaweed nature with which the mud
where they dwell is more or less covered
on the surface. Such growths they scrape
up with their claws, and consume. The
male fiddler has one small claw and one
very big claw, the latter being presum-
ably intended merely for the purpose OF
fighting, inasmuch as the little claw
is exclusively employed to feed it
self with. In the female both claws are
small and are utilized indifferently for
conveying food to the mouth. 1t is very
amusing to see these animals at work
excavating their burrows. This labor
they perform either in the night or in the
daytime, and they do the digging ~
fetching to the surface the mud or sand, a
small pollet at time, depositing each
such load at distance of four or five feet
from the hole.
"There are two remarkable species Of
crabs on the Pacific Coast, more plentiful
there than any other kinds, which are
called respectively the yellow ard purple
shore crabs Their bodies are nearly
square and their claws very large for the
size of the animals. Hundreds of them
will often be found under single big
stone, especially in muddy sloughs or in
brackish water. On every mud fiat when
the tide is out thousands OF them threaten
the intruder with uplifted mandibles.
They are not esteemed by the people gen.
orally, but they are much eaten by the
Chinese, who regard them as a delicacy,
splitting them on wires and cooking them
over the fire.
"Among the most curious crabs are
those which are not known otherwise than
as parasites of the oyster. However, only
the females live in the oyster shells,
where specimens have been found by every
lover of the bivalve on the half she'll
L n 4 ~
with the oysters, but when seen are found
swimming at the surface of the water
The adult female attains the size of half
an inch across the carapace. These little
fellows are considered very good to eat by
epicures, who swallow them raw together
with the oysters usually. They are also
cooked separately, in various fashions,
and are occasionally picked. A nearly
allied species is found in the shells of com
mon sea mussels and scallops. 1t is bigger
than the oyster crab, and the females
alone OF this kind are parasites.
"One of the most highly priced of
crustaceans is the so-called stone crab ,
of the South Atlantic coast, which is
found all the way from South Carolina to
Key West, and in the Gulf of Mexico also.
1t lives in holes in the mud along creeks
and estuaries or in crevices among rocks.
A heap of refuse bricks often afford il a
congenial hiding place. 1t is usually
taken by hand, the hunter reaching into
the hole supposed to be occupied by the
creature and grabbing him at the risk OF
severe bite. The animal has very
powerful claws and it's nip ia something
TO be dreaded. Nevertheless, a skillful
person can make the capture without
much danger, il only he is quick enough.
The art lies in seizing the prey before il
has time to make a clutch.
Among the queerest crustaceans are
the LADY crabs or sand crabs which
are abundant on sandy shores from Cape
Cod 20 Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico.
Their bodies are roughly six sided, white
in color and marked with specks or red
and purple on the back. They bury them
selves commonly near low water mark on
the beaches, covering themselves up to
the eyes with sand, and being thus per-
fectly concealed while watching for prey
and looking out for enemies. If they are
disturbed they disappear altogether and
instantly.
"The most beautiful crabs in the world
are procured in the neighborhood Of the
Farallone Islands, off the Pacific coast.
They are called red rock crabs and
specimens sometimes sell in the market
of San Francisco from s. to s10 each,
merely for curiosities. Their ground
color is bright vermilion and their spines
deep blue. The back shell is covered with
minute bristles and the claws are adorned
with tufts OF hair. Washington Star.