134 BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 



another, looking at it a while, then slipping its tail 

 from the old habitation to try on the new. This 

 is sometimes found to be more inconvenient, in 

 which case it quickly returns to its old shell, and 

 goes in quest of another more roomy and commo- 

 dious. But it is not till after many trials and fre- 

 quent combats, that the soldier sometimes finds him- 

 self completely equipped; for there are frequent 

 contests betwixt two of this species, for some well- 

 looking and commodious shell ; and it is from this 

 circumstance, perhaps, the soldier-crab derives its 

 name. When two of them meet with the same ob- 

 ject, each strives to take possession; they strike with 

 their claws, and bite each other till the weakest is 

 obliged to yield. It is then that the victor takes pos- 

 session, and parades in his new conquest, backwards 

 and forwards upon the strand, before his envious 

 antagonist. The Land Crabs of the \Vest Indies 

 (which also may be reckoned among the natives of 

 the deep,) are represented as living in a kind of or- 

 derly society, and regularly once a year marching 

 down from the mountains to the sea, in order to de- 

 posit their spawn ; and after the little creatures are 

 hatched under the sand, they also are observed as 

 regularly quitting the shore in crowds, and slowly 

 travelling up towards the mountains 



These creatures commence their expedition in the 

 months of April and May. At that time the whole 

 ground is covered with this numerous band of adven- 

 turers. The sea is the place of their destination, and 

 to that they direct their march. No geometrician 



