214 THE LIFE OF CRUSTACEA 



lodged in a fleshy mass formed by a colony of Sea- 

 amenones (Epizoanthus), within which, when it is 

 cut open, may be found the remains of the shell 

 which the Hermit first inhabited. A further develop- 

 ment of the same habit is given by Paguropsis typica, 

 found in deep water in Indian seas, which does not 

 inhabit a shell at any time, but carries a fleshy 

 blanket formed by a colony of Anemones. 



In dredging off the British coasts, we often find 

 smooth rounded lumps of a Sponge {SuheriUs ficus), 

 generally yellowish-grey in colour, having a round 

 opening in which the claws of a small Hermit Crab 

 {Eupagurus cuanensis) may be seen. On cutting open 

 the Sponge, the body of the Hermit is seen to be 

 lodged in a spiral cavity, and at the apex may be 

 found the remains of a shell that has been corroded 

 away by the Sponge which settled on and replaced 

 it. Other species of Hermit Crabs constantly have 

 their shells covered with a horn}^ crust formed by 

 Hydroid zoophytes {Hydradinia, etc.), and in this 

 case also the extension of the Hydroid colony beyond 

 the lip of the shell relieves the Hermit from the 

 necessity of so frequently changing to a larger shell 

 as it grows. 



A number of other animals are found associated 

 with Hermit Crabs, without, as far as we can see, 

 rendering any service in return for the house-room. 

 The Whelk-shells inhabited by Eiipagunis bernhar- 

 dus (see Plate VII.) often contain one of the bristle- 



