The Mighty Deep 



others, and refusing to exert themselves. One 

 prefers to think of the active and independent 

 and intelligent kinds ; and really, crabs have a 

 good deal of intelligence. Quite as much as an 

 average insect ; though perhaps few of them 

 could compete in an examination with ants or 

 bees. 



If any might do so successfully, it would be in 

 all probability some member of the Spider-crab 

 family. 



To this slender -limbed untidy class belongs 

 the unwieldy Giant -crab of Japan. But it is 

 his smaller relatives who excel in sense. The 

 spider-crab has a slovenly appearance, because 

 he attaches to himself stray bits of sea-weed and 

 scraps of sponge or other growths, with the plain 

 intention of becoming less easily seen. 



He keeps to no regular or permanent style 

 of adornment. The nature of his trimmings 

 depends entirely on the character of his sur- 

 roundings. 



Many years ago my father had been for a 

 short dredging excursion, near Worthing ; and 

 he brought home with him one of these small 

 creatures, elaborately ornamented with slim strips 

 of bright-red sea-weed. 



He placed the crab in a basin of water, which 

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