273 



tne habitation is too small to Hide. A shell therefore, 

 is to be found large enough to cover the whole body ; 

 and yet not so large as to be unmanageable. To an- 

 swer both these ends is no easy matter, nor the attain,, 

 ment of a slight enquiry. The little soldier is seen 

 "busily parading the shore along that line of pebbles 

 and shells that is formed by the waves ; still, however, 

 dragging its old habitation at his tail ; unwilling to 

 part with one shell, till it can find another more con* 

 vcnient. It is seen stopping at one shell, turning it 

 and passing it by, going on to another, contemplating 

 that for awhile, and then slipping its fail from its old 

 habitation to try on the new. This also is found to- 

 be inconvenient, and it quickly returns to its old shell 

 again. Jn this manner it frequently changes, till at 

 last it finds one, light, roomy, and commodious. 

 To this it adheres, though the shell be sometimes 

 so large as to hide the body of the animal, claws and 

 all. 



Yet it is not till after many trials, and many com- 

 bats also, that the soldier is thus completely equipped. 

 For there is often, a contest between two of them, for 

 some weU-iookTag shell. They both endeavour to 

 take possession : they strike with their claws ; they 

 bite Kich other, till (he weakest is obliged to yield. 

 It is then that the victor takes possession, and pa- 

 ra les in his new conquest three or four times backward 

 a iti forward upon the strand, before his envious anta- 

 gonist. 



Crabs. eyes, so called, are found in the bodies of 

 cray-tibli. Each fish produces two y.-arl), one on 

 each Side of thii stomach, between the coats of it. 

 HereKgroWs, coaj; upon coat, and is supplied with 

 petrifyirjf jmc b. oy vessels opening (Mi the inner ^>r- 

 fact- oi tht- oiHwif (1 coat. The lir^t scale, whcivof 

 all f hip others- ar 5 ^ fotmed, in -y bi perceivnJ i;i the. 

 centr-. ; the b. ims or drcumieretu es of ninsy i;f t';e 

 rest b 'i?s^ hkcvviae apj.'Lirent. Ir ^ n !' red, tha^ 

 cast thvSestones with their :- .; but IMS is 



N 5 



