A NATURALIST. 91 



down to such as were not larger than a hickory nut. 

 Here was a fine collection made at once, affording a very 

 considerable variety in the size and age of the specimens, 

 and the different shells into which they had introduced 

 themselves. 



The soldier, or hermit crab, when withdrawn from his 

 adopted shell, presents about the head and claws a con- 

 siderable family resemblance to the lobster. The claws, 

 however, are very short and broad, and the body covered 

 with hard shell only in that part which is liable to be 

 exposed or protruded. The posterior or abdominal part 

 of the body, is covered only by a tough skin, and tapers 

 towards a small extremity, furnished with a sort of hook- 

 like apparatus, enabling it to hold on to its factitious 

 dwelling. Along the surface of its abdomen, as well as 

 on the back, there are small projections, apparently in- 

 tended for the same purpose. When once fairly in pos- 

 session of a shell, it would be quite a difficult matter to 

 pull the crab out, though a very little heat applied to the 

 shell will quickly induce him to leave it. The shells they 

 select are taken solely with reference to their suitable- 

 ness, and hence you may catch a considerable number of 

 the same species, each of which is in a different species 

 or genus of shell. The shells commonly used by them, 

 when of larger size, are those of the whilk, which are 

 much used as an article of food by the islanders, or the 

 smaller conch [strombus] shells. The very young her- 

 mit crabs are seen in almost every variety of small shell 



