92 RAMBLES OF 



found on the shores of the Antilles. I have frequently been 

 amused by seeing ladies, eagerly engaged in making a col- 

 lection of these beautiful little shells, and not dreaming 

 of their being tenanted by a living animal, suddenly 

 startled, on displaying their acquisitions, at observing 

 them to be actively endeavouring to escape ; or on intro- 

 ducing the hand into the reticule to produce a particular 

 fine specimen, to receive a smart pinch from the claws of 

 the little hermit. The instant the shell is closely ap. 

 proached or touched, they withdraw as deeply into the 

 shell as possible, and the small ones readily escape obser- 

 vation, but they soon become impatient of captivity, and 

 try to make off. The species of this genus (pagurus) are 

 very numerous, and during the first part of their lives 

 are all aquatic. That is, they are hatched in the little 

 pools about the margin of the sea, and remain there until 

 those that are destined to live on land are stout enough 

 to commence their travels. The hermit crabs which are 

 altogether aquatic are by no means so careful to choose 

 the lightest and thinnest shells, as the land troops. The 

 aquatic soldiers may be seen towing along shells of most 

 disproportionate size ; but their relatives, who travel over 

 the hills by moonlight, know that all unnecessary incum- 

 brance of weight should be avoided. They are as pug- 

 nacious and spiteful as any of the crustaceous class ; and 

 when taken, or when they fall and jar themselves, con- 

 siderably, utter a chirping noise, which is evidently an 

 angry expression. They are ever ready to bite with their 



