108 THE SEA-SIDE AND AQUARIUM. 



must have seemed to him a steep precipice. Unable 

 to make up his mind to take the desperate leap, or 

 allow himself to topple down, he remained for a 

 whole day in this position, but, pitying his forlorn 

 state, I gently picked him up with a piece of bent 

 whalebone, and let him drop softly upon the pebbly 

 beach below. 



On another occasion I possessed a Soldier-crab, 

 that inhabited a Purpura shell, which was, however, 

 quite insufficient to conceal him. Whether it was 

 that his tail was weaker than usual, I cannot say, 

 but in spite of my efforts to make him shift his 

 quarters to some more suitable, though more weighty 

 couch, he always preferred his original dwelling. I 

 dropped in for his approval, at different times, at least 

 six turbinated cots, any one of which would have 

 suited him to a turn ; but no, although his head and 

 the greater portion of his body were always exposed, 

 from some unaccountable reason, he always appeared 

 contented and happy with his choice. 



By accident did I hit upon a plan to eject him. I 

 had a Dog- whelk, which was at least twice the size of 

 the Hermit-crab, and, as it approximated too closely 

 to the top of the tank to suit my notions of propriety, 

 I gave him a sudden jerk that sent lum plump to the 

 bottom. He landed in a corner close to a piece of 

 sandstone, on which some delicate Ulva latissima 

 was growing, and luckily, in the same corner the Her- 

 mit was seated performing his toilet, little anticipat- 

 ing my disturbance. Meantime Mr Whelk in a few 



