48 Life Beneath the Waves. 



or eat their companions ; on the contrary, 

 they allow the smallest crabs to crawl quite 

 close, and even over them without dis- 

 playing any annoyance or wrath, and if 

 too much advantage is taken of their good 

 nature and peaceable disposition, they 

 gently push the offenders away, or betake 

 themselves to a more secure place of 

 refuge. 



The Nut-crab is another kind to be ob- 

 tained only by dredging at sea, and a 

 quaint-looking little creature it is, with its 

 particularly short legs, plump arms, and 

 curiously shaped shell, whereon, as with the 

 Angled, a strange resemblance to a human 

 face is depicted. Very sluggish in its 

 movements is this little Crustacean; very 

 shy and retiring its disposition. It does not 

 stir about much when in captivity, but 

 appears perfectly contented to squat 



