THE ARCHIPELAGO OF CHAUSEY. 49 



the shrimp, and by dragging off the Arenlcola very 

 nearly npset all the Turbos, who forthwith hurried 

 back to their sandy haunts. Then, however, a large 

 edible C^rab (Cancer Pagurus) appeared upon the scene, 

 and the poor little Moenas was obliged in his turn to 

 beat a retreat in order to escape out of reach of the 

 formidable pincers of his stronger kinsman. But he 

 still kept a watchful eye over the dainty morsel 

 which he had once tasted, and taking advantage of a 

 moment when the larger crab was withdrawing from 

 the field from some temporary emotion of alarm, he 

 rapidly seized the long disputed Arenicola, and 

 carried it for safety to some distance from the water's 

 edge, where he might devour it at his ease on dry 

 ground. 



During the early period of my sojourn at Chausey, 

 I was employed in acquiring a general idea of the 

 fauna of the district, and I found among the different 

 species which it possessed that there were many 

 hitherto und escribed forms. If I had felt any desire 

 for this kind of inquiry, I might undoubtedly have 

 reaped a rich harvest, but I confess I have never had 

 the slightest taste for that modification of science, 

 which rests satisfied with examining the exterior of an 

 animal, and then pinning it on a cork or putting it 

 into a bottle, with its name duly inscribed on a 

 label. 



There can be no doubt that the preliminary labour 

 of compiling systematic lists was indispensably 

 necessary, and I am far from wishing to detract from 

 the debt of gratitude which we owe to the patient 

 and laborious observers who have drawn up classified 



VOL. I. E 



