74 RAMBLES OP 



The individual having selected his place, becomes per- 

 fectly quiescent, and no change is observed during some 

 hours but a sort of swelling along the edges of the great 

 upper shell at its back part. After a time this posterior 

 edge of the shell becomes fairly disengaged like the lid 

 of a chest, and now begins the more difficult work of with- 

 drawing the great claws from their cases, which every one 

 recollects to be vastly larger at their extremities and be- 

 tween the joints than the joints themselves. A still 

 greater apparent difficulty presents in the shedding of the 

 sort of tendon which is placed within the muscles. Never- 

 theless, the Author of nature has adapted them to the 

 accomplishment of all this. The disproportionate sized 

 claws undergo a peculiar softening, which enables the 

 crab, by a very steadily continued, scarcely perceptible 

 effort, to pull them out of their shells, and the business 

 is completed by the separation of the complex parts about 

 the mouth and eyes. The crab now slips out from the 

 slough, settling near it on the sand. It is now covered 

 by a soft, perfectly flexible skin ; and though possessing 

 precisely the same form as before, seems incapable of the 

 slightest exertion. Notwithstanding that such is its con- 

 dition, while you are gazing on this helpless creature, it 

 is sinking in the fine loose sand, and in a short time is 

 covered up sufficiently to escape the observation of care- 

 less or inexperienced observers. Neither can one say how 

 this is effected, although it occurs under their immediate 

 observation; the motions employed to produce the dis- 



