^ CRABS. , 67 



" an apple." He had far Letter make an attempt on 

 an iron cannon-sliot of Woolwich pattern at once, than 

 try his powers of mastication on one of these forest 

 fruits. The cherry of Australia, too, has a disagreeable 

 and exasperating habit of growing with its stone out- 

 side, and of being higlily un2^alatable into the bargain ; 

 whilst the " pear " of that favoured land would, if 

 duly fitted by a clever cabinet-maker, and properly 

 polished, make an excellent and highly ornamental 

 knob for a street door. A cabbage-tree is by no means 

 bad as a producer of material for the manufacture 

 of hats, and the green tops are occasionally boiled by 

 settlers of vegetarian incKnings; but any one sanguine 

 enough to seek cabbages amongst the cabbage-palms 

 might reasonably be looked for, with bridle on arm, 

 and basket in hand, carefully prospecting the pastures 

 for a " mare's nest," with a view to the leading home 

 of the colts and the basketing of such eggs as might 

 remain unhatched. Depend, therefore, that our be- 

 grimed little acquaintance is not exactly as stupid as 

 he looks, and that his dirty, hempen jacket, is given 

 him for some wise purpose. Nothing is created in 

 vain ; and Columbus, with all his talent and power as a 

 sea commander, gladly availed himself of the services 

 of one of the most tiny Crabs {^Planes minutus), who, 

 floating by the good ship, in his tangled bed of Sargossa 

 or gulf-weed, was hauled on board by the bronzed and 



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