THE HERMI7-CRAB. SES 
expedition to find another more suited to his increased bulk, and 
being unscrupulous as to the means he uses, he has not long to 
seek. It is interesting to watch a hermit in quest of a cell. When 
the tide retires, the operation may frequently be seen. Carefully 
and even defiantly looking around, to see if any of his many 
enemies are on the look out, the hermit leaves his domicile; 
gliding along on his somewhat distorted abdomen, he reaches a 
THE HERMIT-CRAB. 
(Pagurus Rernhardus.) 
deserted shell. Like a man wishing to take a new house, he walks 
round, inspecting it on every side, then he enters. Most probably 
with his first choice he is not satisfied, and may be seen to try 
several shells “to be let,” always upon the faintest sign of danger 
hurrying back to his old and well-tried home. 
In his successive removals, the little Sybarite chooses a 
hermitage always larger than the last one he occupied, and does 
not fail to exhibit a choice as to colour and architecture. The 
hermits may be found domiciled in almost every species of shell ; 
