CRUSTACEA. 127 



in the interior of the shells of mussels. Other small 

 species inhabit the shells of other living mollusca. 



The Hermit Crab (Pagurus Bernardus), an indi- 

 genous representant of a numerous and interesting 

 group, is not sought for as food in this country. 

 Being deprived of a shell of its own, it inhabits the 

 shells of large univalve mollusca (Buccinum undu- 

 latum). There are many species of Pagurus that 

 live in holes at a considerable distance from the 

 sea, which they only visit now and then, as we go 

 to our watering-places. Thus the hermit crabs of 

 the far west come to the sea once a year, to lay 

 their eggs and change their shells. Some of them 

 are eaten by the native Americans, but they some- 

 times disagree with strangers. Catesby says that 

 a species known as " Diogenes," found at the 

 Antilles in the shell of a large periwinkle (Turbo 

 pica), is roasted in this shell by the natives, and 

 esteemed delicate eating. Though the whole body 

 of the Pagurus is soft and tender, its anterior claws, 

 which project from the shell it inhabits, are so 

 strong, that an individual of two or three inches 

 long pinches smartly. When some of these species 

 are taken they emit a feeble cry,* and endeavour to 

 seize the enemy with their strong claws. 



* The production of sounds by aquatic animals is rare. On 

 sounds produced by fish, see Dufosse in " Comptes Eendus," Paris 

 Academy, 1858, and again in the same publication for 1861. 



