Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-21
GUARDIAN OF THE OYSTER
THE TINY CRAB WE SOMETIMES
SEE IN STEWS,
Pretty Tales About 1t From Ancient
PhifOsophers-About Seventy-Five
Kinds In This Family.
From the Scientific American.

From the Scientific American,
This little crab. which we know as the
oyster crab. Is about the size and shape of
a pea, resembling somewhat bleaehed-out
spider. In Europe 1t Is called the pea
crap. where 1t Is rarely seen except by
naturaiists. tor there 1t Is not eaten by
those who like oysters, while in this coun-
try II Is Well known, as we often see 1t
hoaung upon the surface of an oyster
stew. IL 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
1t was considered a great delicacy by our
first President.
The crab has been known to naturalists
from the earliest times of history, and the
lively fmaginatiOns of writers on natural
history have woven a curious network Of
stories about the life and home of this
modest little animal.
Aristotle the Greek and Pliny the Ro-
man, naturaliSts, believed that a definite
relation or understanding existed between
the shell fish and its little ledger, and even
went SO far as to say that death would be
the result II 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 a prisoner. There
upon the two, the host and his guest, would
feed at leisure upon the body of the ven
turesome fish.
A very beautiful arrangement between
these twO-the blind and the lame-and q
very pretty compact-but the cold eye Of
science saw that btvalves 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 neither 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 lit
tie crab played the part of the Kings
Jackal,' who hunted by night for his ma
Jesty the lion. 1t would sally forth to
hunt and bring food to the helpless mussel
or oyster. and on returning from the hunt
should 1t find the house closed would give
cry, which was recognized by its host.
the door instantly opened and 1t was al
lowed 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 1t 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 In its
own food. and to freshen the water for its
Again the crab was said to warn its pro-
tectfng host from danger by timely pinch,
SO that the doors could be closed against
some crafty octopus or insidious star fish,
warded by board and lodging.
This relation between the crab and the
bivalve was used by the ancients to Illus
trate how helpless IL a man without
friend. Even Cicero Is said to have used
this simile. and we hnd the same idea ex-
pressed by tha Egyptians in their HERO
glyphic writings.
The oyster crab. it Is true. may act in
such a manner that it warns the oyster of
the approach Of danger, but We scarcely
believe that 1t is anything but personal
motive on its part We nineteenth century
folks do not believe that any intelligent
understanding exists between the two. We
and forth on the approach Of danger, will
dart into the first crevice to escape its foe,
and when in safety brandish its formidable
claws with the greatest show of bravery.
So the little Pinnotheres may, with the
same instinct, run back and forth within
retreating push against Its soft body, which
will indicate to the slothful intelligence of
its host that something Is wrong outside.
when it will discreetly close its shell, as
the better part OF vaior.
The oyster crab Is about the size of
large pea. the body Is globular, the legs
small and weak. and 1t differs from nearly
every other crab In having a perfectly soft
yielding skin. In fact. 1t was always
soft shelled crab
The Pinnotheres are found all over the
world wherever we find oysters. mussels,
or scallops, from the Antarctic ocean to the
frozen north: but 1t seems that they are
lean people. In the West Indies there Ia
an oyster which attaches itself to the long
roots of the mangrove trees. When Column
bus flrst saw them, he was greatly aston
ished to md. among the many wonders Of
the western world. oyster-bearing trees,