Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/214

182 occasion I saw a huge fellow entangled in a draw-net. It had killed a large Sole, and was still holding it with vicious grip. Cromer, forty miles northward, with its stony bottom, is a favourite rendezvous of this species. An example weighing 2½ lb. was taken on a line off Britannia Pier. An illustration of an abnormal development in the pincer-claw of one of the Crabs was given in 'The Zoologist' of last year (p. 340).

Portumnus depurator. Swimming Crab. C.—In the warmer months this voracious species is found most abundantly off this coast. It is a most troublesome take both in the draw and shrimp-nets. In the former it becomes woefully entangled; in the takes of the latter it is a most unwelcome intruder, being eager and alert to nip the fingers deftly sorting over the catches of more valuable crustaceans. I have on occasions observed this species swimming near the surface upon the flood-tide up the Bure.

P. variegatus. Pennant's Swimming Crab. E.—I have met with but very few specimens of this Crab; have taken it from a Cod's maw, and on one or two occasions found examples at the tide-mark.

Carcinus mænas. Shore Crab. A.—Locally known as "Sea-Sammy." This species is most abundant, even extending its travels to the fresher waters up-river. On one occasion I knew one solitary fellow who lived fairly comfortably in a marsh-ditch not far from the Bure. He was an exceedingly interesting little fellow to watch in his strange quarters. Every Yarmouth boy knows and delights in hunting this species, using any vile animal substance as a bait that may be picked up in the gutter on the way to the river. Not a few children's lives have been sacrificed to their love of the sport. As the "green" Shore Crab the name is ambiguous, for highly coloured red examples are as common as those with green-tinted carapaces. No use is locally made of Carcinus, who, however, is a most useful little creature at home, making sepulchre for the many carcases of animals and birds, e.g. cats, pigeons, fish refuse, &c, that would otherwise in the neighbourhood become a decided nuisance. In turn this Crab is provokingly fond of the tempting morsels used by salt-water anglers, on Breydon especially. Myriads of small ones are devoured yearly by Gulls, Herons, and other birds; and Codlings