I04 Dwellers of the Sea and Shore 



further protest. For the greater part of an hour they 

 continue their sauntering; she in the meanwhile remain- 

 ing in his tenacious grip. The monotonous watch 

 makes me weary of waiting. 



At length, however, his behavior changes. Facing 

 her, he gathers her to him, and with a sudden move- 

 ment brings her fore body clear of her shell. She 

 accepts his embrace; and it is in this brief moment that 

 a future generation of hermit crabs is assured. 



These amatory embraces of the freebooter are re- 

 sumed at intervals of a half to three quarters of an 

 hour or more. But at no time does he release his hold 

 on her leg. And he would, no doubt, continue to re- 

 strain her for the greater part of the forenoon but for 

 the occurrence of the Inevitable. The nuptials are 

 rudely disturbed by the intrusion of a stranger. 



The hermit crab who now comes upon the scene is 

 formidable not merely in bulk but In appearance, also. 

 Gauzy sprays of red seaweed float from the ends of 

 each feeler, and from the joints of his fore legs stream- 

 ers of green flutter at every step; all of which give 

 him the aspect of a warrior bedecked in the panoply of 

 battle. The presence of these vegetal growths indi- 

 cates that he Is old. Although old he may be, he as yet 

 shows no trace of senility In his movements, a circum- 

 stance apparently not lost upon the other male. 



Viewing the other's approach with no little pertur- 

 bation, the apprehensive swain signalizes his concern 

 with a menacing gesture of his free claw^; then uncere- 

 moniously rolling his smaller mate under him, crouches 

 with his fore body over her and assumes a belligerent 

 attitude. 



