BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 133 



When the young Lobsters leave the parent, they 

 betake themselves to hiding places in the smallest 

 cliffs in the rocks; but no sooner do they find them- 

 selves incrusted with a firm shell, than they sally 

 out in quest of plunder. When the time of moult- 

 ing, or changing the shell draws near, this animal 

 again betakes itself Co a retired situation, where it 

 remains in security during its defenceless state; and 

 after losing the shell, (which both crabs and lobsters 

 do annually,) and before a new one is formed, the 

 animal is in a very naked and defenceless state, ex- 

 posed to the dog fish, and a multitude of other de- 

 predators. In this situation they do not, however, 

 long continue; for the new covering is formed, and 

 completely hardened, in little more than forty eight 

 hours; and no sooner does it find itself covered with 

 its new suit of armour, than it appears again on the 

 stage, lively and active as before. The common 

 Crabs herd together in distinct tribes, and keep 

 their separate haunts. The Soldier Crab is not 

 provided by nature with a shell attached to his body, 

 but she has inspired him with instinctive sagacity to 

 take up his abode in the first empty one he can lay 

 hold of, suitable to his purpose, and to change it for 

 another when it grows incommodious. When it has 

 overgrown, or otherwise has occasion to change the 

 shell, the little soldier is seen busily parading ihe 

 shore, but still dragging its old habitation along, un- 

 willing to part with one, until it has found another 

 still more convenient for its purpose It is ^-en 

 stopping at one shell, turning it, then going on to 



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