98 Dzvellers of the Sea and Shore 



prise to withdraw completely into his sliell and to block 

 the entrance with his claws. Tn a trice the other is upon 

 him. Seizing one of the exposed claws, he tries to dis- 

 lodge him by tugging so violently and rapidly that the 

 collision of their shells beats a tattoo. The persistent 

 attack evidently arouses a spark of pugnacity in the 

 poltroon, for he relaxes sufficiently to emerge and flour- 

 ish a threatening pincer. This, however, is his undoing. 

 He is immediately grasped by one of his rear legs, is 

 jerked clear of his shell, and is tossed over the aggres- 

 sor's shoulder. 



The vanquished crab, now exposed In all his naked- 

 ness, curls his hind body under him and gropes around 

 excitedly for some sort of object that will afford a 

 shelter. None Is within sight. It is now "any port in 

 a storm." So, thrusting his hind body into an interstice 

 among the pebbles, he assumes a defensive posture and 

 keeps a wary eye on the victor who, meanwhile, follow- 

 ing the unvarying procedure among his kind, is feeling 

 around the inside of the empty shell with his formidable 

 claw. After a momentary investigation he exchanges 

 it for the one he carries. Obviously all is not satis- 

 factory; In a very short time he returns to his own. 

 Now, according to the rules of fair play, he should at 

 least be generous enough to relinquish the spurned shell 

 to the loser, as he can by no means avail himself of the 

 spoils of the conquest and still retain the shell he bears. 

 But fair play is no part of the hermit crab's code of 

 ethics; therefore, he seeks to distrain the other who 

 soon shows a disposition to press matters In order to 

 regain his property. 



Awaiting in vain for an Incautious moment when the 



