Some Friends in Armor 



107 



Although it may not be termed a hardy creature 

 when compared with some other inhabitants of the sea, 

 the hermit crab can be raised successfully and be made 

 to round out the natural span of its life in the artificial 

 environment of the indoor aquarium. It is here, there- 



■"**!, 



MALE AND FEMALE HERMIT CRABS. THE FEMALE IS THE SMALLER CREATURE 

 PERCHED ON THE LARGER SHELL OF THE OTHER. 



fore, that I propose to trace those phases of its history 

 impossible of determination in its natural habitat. 



There is strong reason to be-lieve that the female 

 can give birth to fertile eggs a year after the attentions 

 of the male, but the time between mating and the emis- 

 sion of the eggs is generally much less. It is, however. 



