Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-23
CRABS OF MANY KINDS.

=
CRABS OF MANY KINDS.
Fiddlers, Shore Crabs, Oyster Crabs, Stone
Crabs and lady Crabs.
ssTNHERE ARE EVER so MANY CURIOUS
Il kinds OF crabs in the world" said nat
uraist to STAR writer the other day. mot
the least interesting species is that Of the funny
little fddlers which are found all along the
Atlantic coast Of the United States. They in
habit the marshes near the seashore and often
they are seen in numerous companies and even
regiments wandering over the muddy or sandy
flats where they make their homes. When dis
turbed. they quickly scamper in every direc-
ton, seeking the nearest holes. and often fail
ing to discriminate in their choice of a refuge.
Under such conditions you will frequently OBJ
serve the rightful owner of burrow in the act
OF ejecting one or more intruders.
THE FIDpLERs' HOMES.
1.-THE burrows which fiddler crabs live in are
nearly or quite vertical holes for foot or
more in depth, after which they take a hori-
zontal turn, each one ending in a chamber
where the occupant stays most Of the time
| when not looking about for food. These queer
| crustaceans are vegetable feeders, depending
chiefly for their diet upon small plants Of q sea-
weed nature with which the mud where they
dwell is more or less covered ION 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
presumably intended merely for the purpose
OF fighting. inasmuch as the little claw is ex-
clusively employed to feed itself with. In the
female both claws are small and are utilized
lndiferentiy for conveying food to the mouth.
1t Is very amusing to see these animals at work
excavating their burrows. This labor they
perform either at night or in the day time, and
they do the digging by fetching to the surface
the mud or sand, small pellet at time, de-
posting each such load at distance OF four or
i've feet from the whole.
ON THE PACIFIC COAST.
'There are two remarkable species of crabs on
the Pacific coast, more plentiful there than any
other kinds. which are called respectively tie
yellow and 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 q 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 generally. but they are
much eaten by the Chinese who regard them
as deiicacy. splitting them on wires and cook
Ing them over the fire.
THE OYSTER PARASITES.
"Among the most curious crabs are those
which are not known otherwise than as para
sites 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 Shell. Funnily enough the males do
not dwell with the oysters, but when seen are
found swimming at the surface of the wafer.
The adult female at.ains 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 oys-
tiers usually. They are also cooked separately
in various fashions, and are occasionally
picked. nearly allied species is found in the
smells OF common sea mussels and scailops. 1t
is bigger than the oyster crab. and the females
alone of this kind are parasites
TEE STONE CRAB.
zone of the most highly priced of crustace-
ans 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
affords 1T a congeniai 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 its nip is something to be dreaded.
Nevertheless. sklliul person can make the
capture without much danger if only he is
quick enough. The art lies i'll seizing the prev
before 1t has time to make Il clutch. Where
crabs of this kind are caught they are highly
esteemed as food, the meat Of the big claws
having lobster-like flavor They are p,e-
ferred even to the blue crabs of the sort COM
mon In the Chesapeake and Potomac. and
command a higher price in the market being
much less common. They grow to a larger
size than the blue crabs. measuring two
inches more across the back shell. When
seized they cling SO tightly to the walls OF their
abode tnat II is apt to be very difficult TO de-
tach them without fetching them ont piece
meal
LADY OR SAND CRAPS.
Among the queerest crustaceans are the
lady crabs or sand crabs" which are alum
dant on sandy shores from Cape Cod TO Florida
and in the Gulf OF Mexico. Their bodies arc
roughly six-siGed, white III colo- and marked
with specks of red and purple on the back.
They bury themselves commonly uear low-water
mark on the beaches covering themselves ND
to the eyes with sand and being thus perfectly
concealed while watching for prev and locking
out for enemies. If they disturbed they
disappear altogether and instantly. So numer-
Gus are they In some localities that q dead fish.
on the beach will often be found covered with
them, but If any one approaches they scuttle off
and vanish with marvellous celebrity. Presently
II all IL quiet an immense number of eyes and
antenn@ are protrudsd from beneath the sand
ana after their owners have satisfied themselves
that all is well, the army of crabs reappears and
continues operations. These lady crabs are an
important article of food in the New ORGANS
market. but 1t is rarely that they are seen for
sale i'll the north
BEAUTIES ARE THEY.
"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
III the markets Of San Francisco for from 80 to
80 each. merely for curiosIiies Their ground
color is bright vermilion and their spimes deep
blue The back shell is covered with minute
Dristles and the claws are adorned with TUFTS of
hair. Curiosity is often expressed as to the
reason why blue crabs are some times found in
the Potomac and elsewhere carrying smaller
ones beneath them. The object OF this il the
protection Of the female at the time when she
has cast her shell and is consequently helpless.
In this manner the male crab takes care Of the
female and defends her from enemies by which
she might otherwise be devoured."