

NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Mutual combats Sand crab. 



tail from the old habitation, tries on the new. 

 This also is found inconvenient, and it quickly 

 resumes the old one. In this manner it frequent- 

 ly changes, till at length it finds one light, roomy, 

 and commodious. To this it adheres, though the 

 shell be sometimes so large as to hide both the 

 creature's body and claws. 



Many trials and combats, however, are some- 

 times sustained by this crab, before he is thus 

 completely equipped; for there is often aeon- 

 test between two of them for some favorite shell, 

 to which they are rivals. They both endeavor 

 to take possession ; striking with their claw, and 

 biting each other till the weakest is compelled to 

 yield. The victor then takes possession, and in 

 his new acquisition parades backward and for- 

 ward on the strand before his envious antago- 

 nist. 



This animal, whenever caught, emits a faint 

 rry, but pinches forcibly with its claws; nor is 

 there any mode of getting disengaged from 

 these but by either breaking them off or heating 

 the shell. It feeds on fish and insects. It is 

 called the hermit, from the idea of its retiring 

 into a cell ; and the soldier, from its dwelling in 

 a tent. 



The sand-crab is but of a small size ; its color 

 light brown or dusky white. It has eight legs 

 and two claws, one of which is double the size 

 of the other : these claws serve both to defend 

 and feed themselves \\ith. The head has t\vo 



