COMMON SHORE-CRAB, ETC. 95 



CHAPTEK VII. 



COMMON SHORE-CKAB, SWIMMING-CRAB, HERMIT- 

 CRAB, ETC. 



" While fast run before us the sandling and plover, 

 Intent on the crabs and the sand-eels to feed, 

 Or on a smooth rock, which the tide will soon cover, 

 To find us a seat that is tap'stried with weed." 



" And the prawn- catcher wades through the short rippling 



waves." 



ANY one visiting the rocks during the summer 

 months, cannot fail to notice, lying in great numbers 

 around, what will at first sight appear to be the 

 remains of deceased Crabs. Should the visitor, im- 

 pressed with such a belief, capture any of the living 

 specimens that lie at hand, trembling with anxiety 

 at every footfall that breaks upon their sensitive 

 organs of hearing, he will in all probability be not a 

 little surprised to find that, instead of having the 

 usual hard, horny envelopes, their backs are soft and 

 flabby, by no means pleasant to look upon. It will 

 then become evident that the above remains (exuviae) 

 had lately belonged, not to dead, but quick Crustacea. 



