266 SEASIDE DIVINITY. 



he is found. To effect this nefarious purpose, the 

 hermit probably seizes some unsuspecting mol- 

 lusc, as it is grazing on the fronds of the seaweed, 

 and, lacerating it with his powerful claws, drags 

 it from its abode, and, after devouring it, takes 

 quiet and undisputed possession of the vacant 

 shell. The stealthy manner in which the creature 

 moves about, would enable it easily to surprise 

 its victim, who, if possessed of any instinctive 

 fear of such a foe, might be easily deceived by 

 the hermit's outward similarity to one of its own 

 harmless race. Thus the hermit-crab, while 

 acting on its own instinct, accomplishes, along 

 with other voracious inhabitants of the waters, the 

 object of keeping in check the increase of the 

 tribe of molluscs, and so preserving the balance 

 so marvellously maintained between various spe- 

 cies in the animal kingdom, and which in so 

 striking a manner bears testimony to the inten- 

 tion of the Great Artificer. 



Among the many evidences of divine foresight 

 and intention of which marine animals afford 

 examples, the most striking and instructive, as 

 well as beautiful, are those which are afforded by 

 a combination of instinct and organisation adapted 

 to each other. Of this kind of evidence the her- 

 mit-crab affords an admirable instance. 



On the one hand, the singular instinct by which 

 it seizes upon the shell of a species entirely dif- 

 ferent from itself is not accidental ; it is not 

 forced upon it by the notion of self-preservation, 

 in consequence of its exposed condition ; but, like 



