104 LECTURE Till. 



mit crab, with which you are all well acquainted. 

 In order to comprehend the shape of this crea- 

 ture it is necessary to deprive it of its habitation. 

 It will then be seen to be formed of two distinct 

 portions, the head and a good part of the body 

 being covered with shell, like the fore part of a 

 lobster, whilst the hinder or tail portion is bare, 

 soft, and without any solid protection ; so that, in 

 order to defend its hinder regions, the creature 

 is obliged to have recourse to the strange expe- 

 dient of procuring a retreat in any shells that 

 from their size and shape may be adapted to 

 such a purpose, and which the occupants drag 

 about with them on all occasions. I know 

 that it is a question amongst you fishermen 

 whether the crab selects an empty shell for his 

 purpose, or ejects the lawful tenant of one which 

 he takes a fancy to, by seizing his victim the 

 whelk, for instance behind the head, and after 

 killing it proceeding to eat it out of house and 

 home, and then taking possession of the vacant 

 residence. 



The form of this crab is wonderfully adapted 

 to its mode of life in a shell. It will be observed, 

 that of the two claws with which it is furnished, 

 one is exceedingly small when compared with 



