144 WESTERN SERIES OF READERS. 



his body, like the rock-crab, but only his front is 

 thus protected. The rest of his body is soft, and 

 must have some covering. So he finds an empty 

 shell and backs into it. Then he has a pair of 

 clasps, by which he can hold on very firmly. 



When he is well settled in a shell, he feels very 

 much at home, and he will even let you pull him 

 in pieces before he will leave it. So it is of no 

 use to try to pull him out. 



But he comes part way out, of his own accord. 



Yes; he comes out far enough to use his legs, 

 and then he runs around, carrying his house 

 with him. But if you frighten him he will draw 

 back very quickly, and will close up the opening 

 of the shell with his big, hard claws. 



But what if he should grow? Would not the 

 shell be too small for him to live in? 



Yes; and then he would leave it, when he had 

 found a larger one to live in. Sometimes two 

 crabs will fight for the possession of an empty 

 shell, "tumbling over each other, and flinging 

 their legs and claws with singular energy." 



Although the hermit crab is so unwilling to 

 leave his shell, it is said that he can be forced 

 to do so by dropping him on the open arms of a 

 sea-anemone. The j^oor fellow knows that it 

 would be sure death to remain, so he hastily letj 



