38 CRAB, SHRIMP, AND LOBSTER LORE. 



has been substituted for the broken ones — of form 

 much like the original structure. The peculiar curved 

 or cornucoina shape before referred to, and usually, 

 although not invariably, assumed by these baskets, has 

 also given rise to much speculation amongst the 

 scientific. Dr. Gray gives it as his opinion that the 

 Aveight of the Crab when crawling through the interior 

 of the tube, may influence the direction in which the 

 basket is found to incline. He says : "As the Crab 

 becomes imprisoned in the cavity, it will be constantly 

 walking up and down the tube to procure food, and 

 by so doing will, most likely, bend the tube on one 

 side, so that the free end of the tube may become bent 

 down nearly to the level of the base ; " and it remains 

 an open question whether this is the true solution of 

 the enigma, or, like the goblet forms of some species 

 of sponges, and the rounded contour of others, the 

 cornucopia form of growth may not, after all, be that 

 common to E. speciosa. 



It appears to be the prevailing opinion amongst the 

 fishermen by whom the Euplectella is taken, and by 

 whom it is known as the RigederoSy "that it is the 

 work of two insects (meaning probably the Crabs 

 found in the tubes) at the bottom of the sea." A 

 French correspondent in writing recently to the autho- 

 rities of the British Museum, expresses his opinion 

 that the Euplectella is the work of the Crabs. There 



