26 



the shell on their back, and at the approach of 

 danger draw themselves within the shell, and 

 thrusting out the larger claw, will pinch very 

 hard whatever molests them. When it wants to 

 change its shell, it is seen dragging its old in- 

 commodious habitation at its tail, unwilling to 

 part with one shell, even though a troublesome 

 appendage, till it can find another more con- 

 venient. It is seen stopping at one shell, turn- 

 ing it, and passing it by ; going on to another, 

 contemplating that for a while, and then slipping 

 its tail from its habitation to try on the new ; this 

 also is found inconvenient, and it quickly re- 

 turns to its old shell again. In this manner it 

 frequently changes, till at last it rinds 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 combats also, that 

 the soldier is completely equipped ; for there is 

 often a contest between two of them for some 

 well-looking favourite shell for which they are 

 rivals. They endeavour both to take posses- 

 sion ; they strike with their claws, they bite 

 each other, till the weakest is obliged to give up 

 the object in dispute. It is then the victor im- 



