these little crabs are seen quitting the shore,and slowly 

 travelling up to the mountains. 



The old ones however are not so active to return ; 

 they arc become so feeble, that they can hardly creep 

 along. Most of them therefore, are obliged to con- 

 tinue in the flat parts of the country till they recover, 

 making holes in the earth, which they cover at the 

 mouth with leaves and dirt. There they throw off 

 (heir old shells. At that time they are quite naked, 

 and almost without motion for six days. They have 

 then under their stomachs four large white stones, 

 which gradually decrease in proportion as the shell 

 hardens, and when they come to perfection, are not to 

 be found. It is at that time the animal is seen slowly 

 making its way back, and all this is commonly per- 

 formed in six weeks. 



There is likewise an animal of the lobster.kind that 

 annually descends from its mountains, not only to 

 produce an offspring, but to provide itself a covering ; 

 not only to secure a family, but to furnish a house. I 

 mean the Soldier Crab. It is about four inches long, 

 has no shell behind, but is covered down to th,e tail 

 with a rough skin, terminating in a point. But what 

 nature has denied this animal, it takes care to supply 

 by art ; and taking possession of the deserted shell of 

 some other aniiv.al, it resides in it, till, by growing too 

 large for its habitation, it is under the necessity of a 

 change. It is a native of the West India Islands, 

 and every year descends from the mountains to the sea- 

 shore, to deposit its spawn, and to provide itself with 

 a now shell. Its first care is to provide for its off. 

 spring, and it is thought, from the number of little 

 shells which it is "seen examining, that it deposits its 

 spawn in them, which thtrs'is placed in perfect secu- 

 rity, till the time of exclusion. 



It is then mindful of itself. It is still seen in its 

 old shell, v-hich it has considerably outgrown,: a part 

 of the naked body is seen at the mouth of it, which 



