NATURE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4260, 14 November 1874, Page 1 (Supplement)

NATURE.

•A SOUTH SKA VEGETABLE-EATING CRAB. Amongst the other products of the South Sea Islands brought back by tho schooner Jessie Nicoll, is a truly peculiar animal of the Crustacean species known as tho cocoa crab. It is so designated because it chiefly subsists on the fruit of tho cocoanut tree, and is said to possess tho ability of climbing the trees and plucking the fruit thereof. It is armed with formidable claws, with which it tears off the husk of the nut, and penetrates to tho succulent kernel. The color of this crab is mottled red and groy, tho body elongated in two sections, and the lower being exceedingly mobile —not unliko that of a crayfish—terminating in a thick, fat tail. This species of crab has three pairs of legs, provided with serrated extromitios, evidently intended to facilitate its climbing propensities ; but the one brought by tho Jessio Nicoll has lost two of its logs, tho

stumps of which are, however, clearly discernible. It was quite ferocious when first taken on board, and " showed fight" to the sailors by erecting itself on its tail, with its back against the bulwark, and menacing with its claws and powerful fore legs. It subsequently became tamer under the influence of a colder climate, aud was in a semi-torpid state wlien we inspected it yesterday. Since it has been on board the schooner it has entirely subsisted on the cocoanut with water. It partakes of the latter by throwing it into its moutli by a jerky movement of the two claws. It certainly is a queer creature, and quite a curiosity, its habitat being confined to the islands of the Paumota or Low Archipelago. It was taken from one of those islands to Tahiti, and then purchased by the owner of the Jessie Nicoll.— Ota'jo Times.