94 



SEA-SHORE LIFE 



Our hermit crabs carry their eggs about attached to the halrS 

 of the lower side of the abdomen. The larvffi, which swim freely 



Fig. 62; Hermit Oral) removed from 

 sliell. Cape Arm, Mass. 



Fig. (5?,- Little Hermit Crab re- 

 moved from sliell. Cape Ann, Mass. 



through the water, have a long spine fully twice as long as the body 

 itself, projecting straight forward above the eyes. A forked spine 

 also projects backward, so that the body of the crab appears as if 

 attached to a long, forked stick. After a few moults its form 

 changes, and it seeks the shelter of a small shell. 



Three species of hermit crabs are found in shallow water along 

 our coast: 



EupcKjnrns heruhdi'diis, Figs. 60-02, is common north of Cape 

 Cod, and is hairy and bright red in color. In Europe it is nsed 

 as bait by fishermen. It extends from shallow water to a depth 

 of at least 300 feet. 



Eupagurus jjoUiccD-is ranges from Cape Cod to Florida, and is 

 abundant npon oyster beds and rocky bottoms of Long Island 

 Sound. It is pale red in color and the claws are grannlated rather 

 than hairy. It inhabits the largest shells, such as those of the 

 whelk, but appears not to be very fastidious, for the writer found 

 one occupying the bowl of an old clay pipe. 



Eupagurus longicarpus, Fig. ('>3, is the most abundant and 

 smallest of our hermit crabs, and occurs in very shallow water. 

 It may be recognized by its dull yellowish-white legs streaked 

 with dull slatey-gray or blue. 



The Sand Bug, fllippa talpuida, Fig. 64). This curious little 

 creature is related to the hermit crabs, but no one would suppose 

 this to be the case without careful study, for its appearance is 



