HERMIT-CRAB. 109 



seconds, not being at all maimed by his fall, prepared 

 as usual to make a move, and gently turning back his 

 horny door, or operculum, he affixed his broad breast 

 to the first object within reach, and the aforesaid 

 Purpura shell holding this position, it of course was 

 selected for the purpose. 



Shortly thereafter, the Crab, wishing to take his 

 morning walk, prepared to move. Imagine his 

 surprise and indignation, upon finding that his 

 carriage refused to be drawn after him with its usual 

 facility. He knew that the obstruction could not 

 have arisen from its having stuck in the mud, and 

 therefore probably concluded that I or somebody else 

 (not at all an unusual occurrence) was playing tricks 

 upon him. In this belief he gave a strong pull, and 

 then, finding he did not advance in the least his 

 vehicle from its former position, he popped inside 

 with the intention of tiring us out, and so getting 

 free. Accordingly, after a short interval, thinking 

 perhaps that all was right, he peeped at first rather 

 slyly out, but in a little with great boldness, when, 

 to his horror, what should meet his eye but the 

 monster mollusc bearing down upon him, and threat- 

 ening to crush himself and his dwelling all to pieces 

 beneath its weight ! That he was greatly alarmed 

 was evident if not from his face, at least judging 

 from his actions, for he pulled and tugged and shook 

 his long antennaB threateningly, although without 

 the slightest success. A pony might as well have 

 attempted to pull a phaeton to which was attached a 



