104 THE SEA-SIDE AND AQUARIUM. 



moves them in some sort from the catalogue of 

 blemishes. By this physical hypocrisy of assuming 

 the aspect of a different animal, which is known as 

 not having powerful means of destruction, these crea- 

 tures may deceive the unwary, and make them their 

 prey, which, if they wore the livery of their own 

 tribe, would be on their guard and escape them." * 



"It is a question of some interest, whether the 

 Hermit-crab always chooses for its habitation a shell 

 already empty, or whether it actually kills and 

 devours the inhabitant of one that suits its size, 

 and then takes possession of its violated home. The 

 latter I believe to be true, in many, if not in most 

 cases; not certainly, however, in all, as we often find 

 the Hermit occupying an old and long-abandoned 

 shell. But so much more generally is it found in 

 fresh shells, that it can scarcely be doubted, even on 

 this ground alone, that it often obtains its habitation 

 by violence. The fishermen on the coast are fully 

 persuaded of this; and an intelligent person of this 

 class at Bognor, assured me that the aggressor seizes 

 its victim the Whelk, for instance immediately 

 behind the head, and thus kills or disables it, then 

 eats it, and finally creeps into and appropriates its 

 vacant shell." t 



This statement may be correct, but, so far as I 

 know, it never has been confirmed by the experience 

 of any other author. Whether it is that my own 



* Kirby, "Bridg. Treatise." 



f Professor Bell, "Stalk-Eyed Crustacea." 



