CRABS AND LOBSTERS. 147 



last joints have no twist, but instead have a groove carved in 

 each side ; the eye-stalks are stouter and the inner antennae 

 longer than in the Common species. It does not attain such 

 large proportions as bernhardus. An interesting point in the 

 natural history of prideaux, is the friendly relations subsisting 

 between it and a peculiar species of anemone the so-called 

 Cloaklet (Adamsia pal/iatd) which attaches itself to the shell 

 serving as the Hermit's cell, and spreads its base out in 

 two lobes, that almost encircle the mouth of the shell. There 

 is no doubt that this commensalism, as such alliances are 

 called by naturalists, is of advantage to both parties to it : 

 the anemone is thus brought into contact with food at the 

 Hermit's own table, so-to -speak, and the crab may be in turn 

 protected from the cavernous jaws of fishes, whose gorge rises 

 at the nauseous odour of all anemones. Several such alliances 

 are known in connection with other species of Hermits. 



To return to our overhauling of stones : this should be done 

 with care, especially when we are dealing with large masses. 

 I have, when serving my apprenticeship at this kind of work, 

 years ago, had the misfortune, on more than one occasion, to 

 so miscalculate the weight and shape of a large stone, that it 

 has fallen with greater force and in a different direction from 

 that expected and my toes have been on the spot where it 

 fell ! But apart from such accidents, the stone must be turned 

 sharply, or the queer creatures which Nature has specially 

 contrived for living beneath it, will vanish into holes, under 

 other stones, in the sand or mud, or in some other manner. 



Among those that require a sharp eye to see them is the 

 Hairy Porcelain Crab, Shaggy Flat-crab, or Broad-claw (Porcel- 

 lanaplatycheles). Here is his portrait, but it is only fair to the 

 reader I should explain that, like many other portraits, it was 

 taken after the subject of it had been carefully washed and 

 brushed up. Platycheles is a ragamuffin, a crustacean mud-lark. 

 There is none other like him in the whole range of British crab- 

 life, though several are fond of dressing themselves up in a 



