Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 220, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1910 — The World’s Wonders [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The World’s Wonders

STRANGE THINGS FOUND IN VARIOUS I PORTIONS OF THE EARTH

Crabs That Climb the Trees

The robber or cocoanut crab has been known for some centuries, but until lately doubts have existed whether these crustaceans actually climb trees to reach the cocoanut The accompanying photograph taken on Christmas Island should do away with all uncertainty on this point The animals are easily r frlghtened, and scuttle off backwards at the slightest alarm. They do not dive only upon cocoanuts, but feed on fruits of various kinds, especially those :o£ the sago-palm, while carrion, of all sorts—even the bodies of their own relatives—does not come amiss. At one time, when rats swarmed in the forest at night the crabs restricted their depredations to the daylight hours; but now that rats have almost disappeared, even at night, camp utensils are not safe from their claws, in fact, they have been known to carry away cooking apparatus, bottles and clothes. The robber-crab’s method of carrying cocoanuts Is to strip them of their husks, and then to hold the nut under some of its walking legs, while it retires raised high on the Ops of those of its legs npt used for this purpose.