240 THE HERMIT GRAB. 



all raised at once like the points of a wool-card. The tail of 

 each of the trained fishes in the tubs is furnished with a 

 ring for the attachment of a fine but long and strong cord. 

 When the fishermen perceive the basking turtles on the 

 surface of the sea, knowing that the slightest noise would 

 disturb the intended victims, they slip overboard one of 

 their fish tied to the long cord, and pay out line according 

 to their distance from the turtles. As soon as the fish per- 

 ceives the floating reptile, he makes towards it, and fixes 

 himself so firmly to it that the fishermen pull both fish and 

 and turtle into the boat, where the fish is very easily de- 

 tached from its prey, and the turtle is secured. 



Crabs, which belong to the highest order of Crustaceans, 

 (a hard covering) are taken by traps — baskets which readily 

 permit an entrance, but not their escape, and which are 

 baited with meat or animal garbage of some kind — or pots, 

 or are caught in the holes of the rocks at low tide with a rod 

 and hook. These animals require very careful handling 

 when found on the rocks or the sea-shore. Their fighting 

 propensities are not confined to other prey, but they have 

 fierce encounters among themselves, by means of their for- 

 midable claws, with which they lay hold of their adversary's 

 legs, and dexterously amputate them. 



The Hermit Crab is one of the most curious of this 

 numerous family. A more daring little burglar could not 

 be found than this animal, appropriating to its own use the 

 shells of whelks and periwinkles, after basely dislodging and 

 killing their lawful owners. It is curious to see this crab 

 busily parading the sea-shore, dragging its old incommodious 

 habitation behind it, unwilling to part with it until another 

 and more convenient one is found. It stops first at one shell, 

 turns it, pssses by, then goes to another, looks at it atten- 

 tively for a time, and then tries it. Not being found suit- 

 able, it resumes the old one, and in this manner frequently 

 changes, until at length it finds one light, roomy, and com- 



