UNIVALVES. 161 
exactly in the form of a hook, by which the Hermit 
attaches himself to any accidental projection, crevice, 
chink, or roughness in his moveable habitation. 
Without this admirable appendage, the parasitic Crab 
would be one of the most helpless of all animals, 
obnoxious to every kind of injury, and totally unable 
to ward off the insults of his enemies. The want of 
armour is thus completely made up to him; and while 
he hooks himself by the claw to the walls of his 
apartment, he travels with a thin commodious tent, 
impervious to air and moisture ; which he is more- 
over able to throw aside, whenever it becomes too 
small for his convenient reception. 
Nothing can be more amusing than to observe the 
movements of this little animal when about to change 
his habitation. He is seen busily parading along that 
line of pebbles and of shells which is formed by the 
extremest wave, and still dragging after him his in- 
commodious dwelling, as if wisely resolving not to 
part with one, however inconvenient, till certain of 
obtaining another, more congenial to his wishes. 
Then stopping at a shell, he turns it over, and 
having contemplated it for a short time, he slips 
out of his old mansion, and tries on the new. If 
this does not appear to suit him in every respect, 
he quickly re-enters that which he had left, and 
moves onward in quest of another, more to his mind. 
M 
