266 



LOCAL JOTTINGS.— No. 6. 

 DORCHESTP^R— DORSETSHIRE. 



BY JOHN GARLAND, ESQ. 



The Hermit Grab, (Pagunis.) — This wonderful little tenant of our shores 

 I so seldom see any mention of in my readings, that I cannot help thinking 

 a short account of such an interesting animal may be acceptable to the 

 readers of "The Naturalist." 



They are called Soldier Crabs, or Hermit Crabs, from their taking up their 

 abodes in empty shells, but of what kind they may happen to be they are 

 not particular — either turbinate or truncated. The appearance of the little 

 Crab peering forth from its borrowed dwelling is very peculiar, the large 

 projecting eyes, the legs, and the claws, being only visible. The abdominal 

 portion of the body is without that hard shell of the fore parts and of the 

 other kinds of Crab, and they look out for empty shells of the size best 

 suited to their bodies, and take possession of them, seeking for their prey, 

 and retiring within the shells again at the least approach of danger. They 

 feed on any animal matter they can find on the shores and shallows of 

 the coast. They hold on in the inside of the shell with some of their 

 small legs, and with great comparative power. As their bodies increase in 

 size they look out for larger shcl's, and most amusing is it to see one of 

 them twining over a shell, and then, doubtful if it will suit him as a resi- 

 dence, going to another until he meets with one which he fancies, and very 

 prudently never leaving the old one until he has found such new tenement — 

 perhaps a shell of a different desc-ription. It is also most comical to see them 

 dragging their domiciles about with them, and with their claws, one of which 

 is larger than the other, seeking for food or defending any attacks made on 

 them by other fish. What a wonderful instinct this is! and how remarkably 

 it shows forth the wisdom and care of the Creator for his creatures. 



The Peninsula, commonly called the "Island of Poi-tland," near Weymouth, 

 is a most interesting, though little known, locality for naturalists. In the West 

 Bay, the north-western part of the island, and on the Chcsil Beach they are 

 found in abundance, and constantly taken up by the fisherman in the lobster 

 and crab pots. On the coast of Sussex too they are plentiful, and I doubt 

 not on most other parts of the shores of Great Britain. I have a specimen 

 taken at Hastings in a whelk shell, and well preserved by a person who deals 

 in objects of Natural History on the esplanade in that town, and several 

 other specimens which I have found in this neighbourhood. 



The Rook. — At the pretty village of Upwcy, where I am staying, there is 

 a very large Rookery at the back of a mill, and underneath a lofty range of 

 hills, on the oppo.site side of which is another high range of hills forming 

 the valley in which this lovely, favourite, and healthy village is situated. I 

 remark in the mornings from six to seven o'clock, and in the evenings about 

 jseven, an extraordinary commotion amongst the feathered occupants of the 



