The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-12-22
GUARDIAN OF TIE OYSTER.
MISSION OF THE TINY CRAB WE
OFTEN SEE IN STEWS.
Pretty Tales About II From Ancient Phil.
osophers Ssventy.five Kinds IN
This FamiIy-Warns Host OF Impending
Danger.

osophers-About Ssventy.fivs Kinds In
This FamiIy-Warns Host Of Impending
Danger.
This little crab, which We know as
The oyster crab, is about the size ana
shape of a pea resembling somewhat
spider. In Europe 1t Is
rallied the pea-crab, where 1t Is rare
y seen except by naturalists, for there
it Is not eaten by those who like oys-
tiers, while in this country it is well
known, rs we often see 1t floating
upon the surface of an oyster stew. 1t
Is common on our coast, not only IN |
oysters, but also in mussels and seal
lops.
The name "Washington crab has
been suggested by some for the oyster
crab, as it was considered a great
delicacy by our first president.
The crab has been known to natu-
ralists from the earliest times OF his
tory, and the lively imaginations OF
writers on natural history have WOW
en- a curious network of stories about
the life and home of this modest lit
lie animal.
Aristotle, the Greek, and Pliny, the
Roman, naturalists, believed that
definite relation or understanding ex-
listed between the shell fish and its
little lodger and even went 50 far as
to say that death would be the re-
suit Il the crab should desert its host.
The watchful crab, living within the
home of the dull and stupid oyster, on
seeing small fish approach. would
wait until one more bold than the rest
of his companions ventured within
the open shell. then gently nipping the
oyster, the doors would be closed and
the fish held prisoner. Thereupon
the two. the host and his guest, would
feed at leisure upon the body Of the
venturesome fish.
A very beautiful arrangement be-.
tween these two-the blind and the
lame-and very pretty compact
but the cold eye of science saw that
bivalves do not feed upon fish. but
upon microscopic animals and plants,
which live and float in the water, and
that the little crab, whose limbs are
so soft and yielding, could have Meth
er the strength nor the power to pinch
off morsels of food from an ordinary
fish.
Another story, which held its own
until late in the last century, was that
this little crab played the part of the
Kings Jackal," who hunted by
night for his majesty, the lion. 1t
would sally forth to hunt and bring
food to the helpless mussel or oyster,
and on returning from the hunt,
should it find the house closed, would
give a cry, which was recognized by
its host, the door instantly opened, and
it was allowed to enter. Study has
shown that the crab never leaves its
home, and cannot cry, but as with the
lion, who, in fact, often gets the food
for the jackal, SO it is that the little
crab feeds upon the substances which
are swept in by the current of water
made by the bivalve, in order to bring
it's own food, and to freshen the water
for its respiration.
Again the crab was said to warn its
protecting host from danger by q
timely pinch, so that the doors could
be closed against some crafty octopus
or insidious star fish, and for which
service the crab was rewarded by
board and lodging.
This relation between the crab ani
the bivalve was used by the ancient'
10 illustrate how helpless is maj
| without a friend. Even Cicero J!
said to have used this smile, and W.
| dnd the same idea expressed by thu
Egyptians in their hieroglyphic writ
| ings.
The oyster crab, 1t is true, may &C
| in such a manner that it warns thu
oyster of the approach of danger, blu
we scarcely believe that 1t is anythin,
but a personal motive on its part. w
nineteenth century folks do not be
lieve that any intelligent understand
| ing exists between the two. We hav'
all seen how a crab will hurry bacl
and forth on the approach Of danger
will dart into the first crevice to es
cape its foe, and when in safety bran
dish its formidable claws with tn
greatest show Of bravery. So the iii
tie Pinnotheres may, with the sam
instinct. run back and forth within
| the sensitive mantle of the oyster
and retreating push against its sof
body, which will indicate to tn
slothful intelligence of it's host tina
something is wrong outside, when
will discreetiy close its shell, as tn
better part of valor.
The oyster crab is about the size Q
a large pea, the body is globular, th
legs small and weak. and it diner
from nearly every other crab In hay
ing perfectly soft yielding skin. I
fact, it was always "soft-shelle
crab"
The Pinnotheres are found all owe
the world, whenever we find oyster
mussels, or scalrops, from the Ant
arctic ocean to the frozen north; b,
it seems that they are only used {
table delicacy by the American pee
; pie. In the West Indies there is .
oyster which attaches itself to II
long roots of the mangrove tree
When Columbus first saw them,
was greatly astonished to fin
among the many wonders of the ives
en- world. oystersbearing trees. al
having read that pearls were form'
in oysters by drops of dew falling in
= f1roir opop r,o,rthc rcporfod IN n