284 THE SEA SHORE 



hand, will abruptly gives its body a turn and hastily thrust itself 

 backwards into it. 



If at the time of this experiment the advancing tide disturbs 

 the water of the pool, the result is somewhat ludicrous, for the 

 shell, too cumbersome to be controlled by the creature within, is, 

 regardless of its attempts to maintain a normal position, turned 

 over and over as each wave advances and retreats. 



Again, supposing the shell supplied to be too small for the 

 intended occupant, it will, after the usual examination of the 

 interior, thrust its soft abdomen as far in as possible, and make 

 the best of the unsatisfactory circumstances until a more suitable 

 home can be found. And if, at this distressing period, we drop 

 before it a shell of just the right size the one from which the 

 creature was originally expelled for instance, it is astonishing how 

 quickly the change of houses will be accomplished. After a brief 

 examination of the shell with the object of determining whether all 

 is right within, during which the crab continues to avail itself of 

 the imperfect accommodation afforded by the previous shell, it 

 rapidly extracts its body from the one and thrusts itself backwards 

 into the other. Its normal habits are at once resumed, all its 

 movements being now suggestive of confidence and contentment. 



We have already referred (p. 153) to the fact that a large 

 anemone (Sagartia parasitica) is commonly found attached to a 

 whelk shell, which at the same time forms the home of the hermit 

 crab, and (p. 44) that a marine worm (Nereis) is also a common 

 associate of the hermit, taking up its abode in the interior of the 

 same shell ; and we also briefly discussed the mutual advantage 

 of such an arrangement to the parties concerned. These triple 

 combinations are not so frequently met with on the shore between 

 the tide-marks, but are dredged in considerable numbers by 

 the trawler ; and the reader will find it repay him to secure one 

 in order that he may be able to watch the interesting habits of 

 the associates. The movements of the hermit crab are always 

 pleasing, particularly the manner in which it seizes and manipu- 

 lates its food; and still more so is the occasional appearance of 

 the head of the worm, always in exactly the same place, for the 

 purpose of deliberately stealing the food from the very jaws of the 

 crab. 



Hermit crabs are easily kept in captivity, and may be fed on 

 any kind of animal food, but care should be taken not to allow an 

 excess of food to remain in the water and render it putrid by 



