248 DAHLAK 



abdomen from its enemies, the poor hermit-crab picks out 

 the most suitable shell from a myriad of the most varied 

 species, or changes with an amazing rapidity if it comes 

 across a type which appeals more to its taste and needs. We 

 have often witnessed such a transfer, and on the basis of 

 repeated observations we can affirm that spiky rough shells 

 are not the ideal of the hermit. We have often seen one leave 

 an old bumpy lodging to move into a perfectly smooth shell 

 such as a moon shell or a nerite. The logical explanation of 

 this preference is that since the hermit-crab has to drag with 

 it the not inconsiderable weight of its own house, it tries to 

 lighten its work by choosing a shell which slides easily across 

 the ground. When the hermit-crab is faced with a slope, for 

 example a sand dune, it acts with great good sense. It 

 would be heavy work to drag its shell behind it, at the same 

 time holding it so that it did not slip away from its abdomen 

 downhill. The hermit-crab is shrewd. It turns round and goes 

 uphill backwards pushing its load in front of it. 



I have said that the hermit-crab is the greediest of 

 Crustacea. To be convinced of this it is enough to watch 

 colonies of them a hundred yards inland, grouped around 

 the trees where the ospreys have their nests. When the falcon 

 is feeding its young, pieces of fish fall down to the crabs and 

 they have none of the worry of hunting and fighting for their 

 food. They can feed without danger so long, that is, as each 

 individual member of the tribe keeps his abdomen well 

 covered up. If one of the tribe by misfortune loses his shell 

 his m.ates pounce on him, tear him to shreds and devour him 

 in a flash. 



