ABOUT CRABS. 197 



ables it to grip the columella, or upper part of the inside of the shell 

 that it occupies, thus keeping itself snugly in place. As the crab in- 

 creases in size by growth, it has to change its home for one more 

 roomy ; and this leads to some I'emarkable exhibitions of its instincts. 

 The sight, which we have often beheld, is one of exciting interest. 

 Watch, now, if you please. Here is a fat little hermit-crab, w^hose 

 domicile, like a strait-jacket, has become decidedly uncomfortable, and 

 he is somewhat distracted about it. He is out a house-hunting — that 

 is a literal fact. See, he has found an empty shell. It is not so hand- 

 some as the one he now occupies, but it is a little larger. Look, how 

 he almost lifts it up among his ten feet, every one of which is an in- 

 terested inspector, as each must bear its part in sustaining the estab- 

 lishment. Now he rolls it round and round, all over and over, deli- 

 cately manipulating its sculpture occasionally; he is not only testing 

 its specific gravity like a philosopher, but also seems to have an eye 

 to appearances. Now comes the most essential, the inspection of the 

 interior. Will it fit ? That is the chief consideration. He inserts 

 his longest finger, and thoroughly probes the whole matter. One more 

 trial — and now it seems that the antennae, or feelers, enter into the 

 consultation. And what an amount of feeling deliberation does this 

 step involve ! Well, tlie thing appears to be satisfactory. It is evi- 

 dently decided that the new house will answer. And now comes the 

 most trying time of all — for " moving " is a trying time. But Pagurus 

 is actuated by considerations that fall not to the lot of migratory mor- 

 tals of the bipedal sort. His accountability is of the ten-talent order. 

 With his eyes he surveys the entire situation. What ! Yes, it is so ! 

 He has moved, and settled, and has got the house " all to-rights." 

 The whole thing was done in the twinkling of an eye. It vacates the 

 old house, whisks its tail round, and enters the new one backward, as 

 if shot into it from a gun. In fact, unless watching intently, the whole 

 movement will elude the eye, like a trick of legerdemain. And the 

 cause is not far to seek. If that soft, nude, defenceless body were ex- 

 posed but for an instant, it might become the prey of some darting fish. 



These hermit-crabs are highly pugnacious. We once took a pair 

 of them that we suspected of being anxious to change their houses. 

 They were put in a vessel of sea-water, and, full in sight of them, was 

 placed an empty winkle- shell, which we supposed was of the right 

 size. How they did fight for it ! It was a battle for life. One suc- 

 cumbed, at last, and died. The survivor coolly surveyed his victim, 

 and then surveyed the new premises. After this, he promptly entered 

 into possession ; and then, pitiful to relate, he fell-to eating his defunct 

 comrade. Oh, the cannibal ! 



The cut (Fig. 4) given of a hermit-crab shows actinea, or zoophite, 

 upon the shell. These are sometimes called sea-anemones, and animal 

 flowers, on account of their being real animals, with a flower-like form. 



The class Crustacea, which embraces the creatures of whom we 



