HERMIT-CRAB. 105 



specimens have been more than usually meek and 

 quiet, I cannot say; but certainly they never shewed 

 any signs of being at all likely to commit such a 

 serious offence as that above laid to their charge. It 

 may be, perhaps, because I always fed them well, 

 and therefore left them no inducement to exhibit any 

 cannibal propensities towards their companions. 



It is not incurious to speculate upon the age at 

 which the juvenile Hermit-crab becomes aware that 

 he must shift for himself, and hunt about for a shield 

 to protect him from danger. Do his parents give 

 him his first lessons 1 or is it instinct ? Supposing 

 that no shells were to be found, what would be the 

 result ? would nature come to his aid ? and what, 

 again, is the largest size to which such creatures grow I 



While the Hermit is in good health, he keeps a 

 firm grip of his mansion with his hooky tail ; but no 

 sooner does he feel squeamish and poorly, than he 

 loosens his hold and crawls outside the entrance door, 

 there to die. This is invariably the case, and one 

 can hardly conceive a more pitiable object than he 

 presents when in this melancholy condition so 

 tame, so crest-fallen, so totally the reverse of the 

 usual sharp, snappish, impudent style in which he 

 conducts himself when at home and in good health. 



Be careful to nip him out of the tank as speedily 



as possible after he has given up the shell, as his 



company, at no times over pleasing to his companions, 

 soon becomes a perfect nuisance. His carcase breeds 

 miasma and death to all around. 



