. Elements of zoölogy. Zoology. 92 CRABS AND INSECTS. large claw closing the entrance like an operculum. The claws are often brilliantly colored blue, purple, and red. Note.—On Bush Key, Tortugas group, the author has often ob- served land-hermits and a Gecarcinus climbing bay cedars and rob- bing young noddies of their food, despite their vigorous protests. The largest ally of the Hermit is the Birgos latro, found in the Spice Islands and various parts of the Indian Ocean. The abdomen is protected by hard plates ; consequently, they do not need a shell. They attain a length of three feet. Pro
. Elements of zoölogy. Zoology. 92 CRABS AND INSECTS. large claw closing the entrance like an operculum. The claws are often brilliantly colored blue, purple, and red. Note.—On Bush Key, Tortugas group, the author has often ob- served land-hermits and a Gecarcinus climbing bay cedars and rob- bing young noddies of their food, despite their vigorous protests. The largest ally of the Hermit is the Birgos latro, found in the Spice Islands and various parts of the Indian Ocean. The abdomen is protected by hard plates ; consequently, they do not need a shell. They attain a length of three feet. Professor Van Beneden states that one lifted a goat from the ground by its ears. They subsist upon cocoanuts, breaking the shells by hammering them with their claws. They visit the water daily, but breathe air, the gills having all the attributes of true lungs. Short-tailed Crabs (Brachyura).—The short-tailed crabs (Fig. 102) differ from the Hermits in having well- developed hind-feet, an abdo- men capable of being bent un- der the body, and a broad and flat carapace. Marine Crabs.—The larg- est of these is the Macrocheira of Japan, that often measures twenty-two feet between the large biting claws, each of which is ten Fig. 103.—Lupea, short-tailed , - lr r . _,, , , crab, with the last two claws and a half f eet long' The body adapted for swimming. is small, and resembles a moss- covered rock. The claws are adapted for crawling. The Lupea (Fig. 103) has the last two claws adapted for swimming. Note.—Some of the spider-crabs of our coast purposely plant sea- weed upon their backs, where it grows, affording them effectual pro- tection. A crab deprived of this growth will recover its carapace immediately. Cancer ftilgens, according to Sir Joseph Banks, is lumi- nous. The most remarkable luminous crustacean, according to Nor-. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appeara
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
