92 RAMBLES OF 



chairs and other furniture, and frequently something 

 like a large stone would tumble down from such ele- 

 vations, with a loud noise, followed by a peculiar 

 chirping noise. What an effect this produced upon 

 entirely inexperienced strangers, may well be ima- 

 gined by those who have been suddenly waked up 

 in the dark, by some unaccountable noise in the 

 room. Finally, these invaders began to ascend the 

 bed; but happily the musquito bar was securely 

 tucked under the bed all around, and they were 

 denied access, though their efforts and tumbles to 

 the floor produced no very comfortable reflections. 

 Towards day-light they began to retire, and in the 

 morning no trace of any such visitants could be per- 

 ceived. On mentioning our troubles, we were told 

 that this nocturnal disturber was only Bernard the 

 Hermit, called generally the soldier-crab, perhaps 

 from the peculiar habit he has of protecting his 

 body by thrusting it into any empty shell, which he 

 afterwards carries about until he outgrows it, when 

 it is relinquished for a larger. Not choosing to pass 

 another night quite so noisily, due care was taken to 

 exclude Monsieur Bernard, whose knockings were 

 thenceforward confined to the outside of the house. 

 I baited a large wire rat-trap with some corn-meal, 

 and placed it outside of the back door, and in the 

 morning found it literally half filled with these crabs, 

 from the largest-sized shell that could enter the trap, 

 down to such as were not larger than a hickory-nut. 

 Here was a fine collection made at once, affording a 

 very considerable variety in the size and age of the 



