A Goodly Company of Crabs 



contained a supply of green sea-weed. And next 

 morning a change was seen. The crab had cast 

 aside his red ribbons, and had decked himself 

 out with a smart array of green ribbons instead. 

 Such conduct may, if we choose, be accounted 

 for by the magic word " instinct;" but it certainly 

 wears the aspect of deliberate intention, and even 

 of some dim consciousness of cause and effect, 

 not to speak of a knowledge of colour. 



This habit of the spider-crab is now well 

 known and recognised ; and he has been closely 

 watched during the " dressing" process. 



It has been noted that he always puts each 

 slip of sea- weed or scrap of sponge, or aught else 

 that he uses for the purpose, to his mouth, before 

 fastening it to his body or limbs. A suggestion 

 has been made that his object in so doing is to 

 lick it and render it sticky. 



Perhaps in some cases it could not otherwise 

 be attached ; but many of the spider-crabs have 

 hooked hairs, exactly adapted for holding fast 

 such objects as they love to adorn themselves 

 with. 



Nor are the adornments always merely stuck 

 on. Both sea-weeds and sponges frequently take 

 root, and flourish as healthy growths upon the 

 crab's back. It is an extraordinary fact that the 



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