CANCER. 37 



selection is perhaps as much influenced by the facility of 

 hiding or burrowing as by the supply of food." 



From Mr. Gosse's ' Naturalist's Rambles on the Devon- 

 shire Coast/ p. 174, the following extract, of " A Crab at 

 home," is derived. " At the water's edge, at the outer base 

 of the Capstone, at low-water spring tide, I was looking 

 about for Actinias, when peering into a hole I saw a fine 

 Crab, not of the very largest, but still of very nice table 

 dimensions. I poked in my arm and took hold of him; 

 and though he made vigorous efforts to hold fast the angles 

 and notches of his cave with his sharp toes, I pulled him 

 out and carried him home. I noticed that there came out 

 with him the claw of a crab of a similar size, but quite 

 soft, which I supposed might have been either carried in 

 there by my gentleman to eat, or accidentally washed in. 

 After I had got him T)ut, for it was a male, I looked in 

 and saw another at the bottom of the hole, which appeared 

 to me considerably smaller. I debated whether I should 

 essay this one also, but reflected that I could only eat one 

 at a supper, and that moderation in luxuries is becoming; 

 ' so/ said I, c friend Crab, stay there till next time ; I may 

 find you here again on some other auspicious morning/ 

 When I arrived at home, however, I discovered that I had 



