160 CONCHOLOGIST’S COMPANION. 
take refuge in the empty cavity of a turbinated shell. 
This species is parasitic. It affords a striking instance 
of the powerful effect of instinct; of that propensity 
which is prior to experience, and independent of 
instruction. No sooner does the young Hermit 
emerge from under the protection of its parent, than 
he hastens to the deserted shell of some simple Nerite, 
which he continues to occupy for a considerable time ; 
but as his desires increase in proportion to his growth, 
he removes from one residence to another, till at 
length, like the Soldato mentioned by Don Ulloa, he 
takes up his abode in the spacious mansion of a 
marine Helix or Buccinum. With either of these he 
can travel rapidly over the soft sand, retire at night 
into its ‘* hollow wreathed chamber,” or render it an 
impregnable citadel, by withdrawing to the farthest 
end ; and inflicting severe pinches upon such as ven- 
ture to attack him. Now mark the extraordinary 
manner in which the Hermit, or Soldier Crab, is 
enabled to carry his tent from one place to another ; 
for as it is sometimes considerably larger than 
the inmate, it must, without some peculiar expe- 
dient for obviating the inconvenience, be con- 
tinually left behind. The Creator of the Hermit 
Crab, who consigned it to a borrowed habita- 
tion, foresaw the difficulty, and admirably provided 
for it. The tai] is furnished with a bent claw 
