174 PAGURIDyE. 



attached, it draws itself in with a sudden snap, and then 

 resists every attempt to pull it out, closing the aperture 

 with its stout strong legs and pincers, and thus also pro- 

 tecting the soft membranous abdomen. 



The Hermit Crabs are much employed by the fishermen 

 (who call them " Wigs," or possibly " Whigs, 1 ' 1 ) as bait 

 for cod ; for which purpose they answer very well for 

 immediate use, although the original possessors and build- 

 ers of the house, the whelks, are much preferred for night- 

 lines, as remaining more firmly on the hook. They are 

 taken in great numbers in prawn-pots for this purpose. 



The species is very widely distributed, and exists in 

 every part of our coast in great numbers, being continu- 

 ally taken in the dredge, the keer-drag, and the prawn 

 and lobster pots. 



