SEAWORMS, SEAWEEDS, AND OTHER SEA-THINGS. 143 



far as we know, but he helps to destroy a creature 

 that is better than himself. 



I fear there are some people in this world that 

 are not willing to work for themselves, but prefer 

 to get their living from others. And if one were 

 to call such a person a Peltogaster (which is the 

 name of that ugly barnacle), he would think it 

 was a hard name; but I fear it would be a true 

 one. Whatever you do in life, don't be a Pelto- 

 gaster. But there is one thing more in the jar, is 

 there not, Mary? 



Yes, it is a Black Turban-shell, and I thought 

 it was empty at first, but when I put it in water 

 there seemed to be something in it that was alive. 

 See, the creature has legs; so I know that it is 

 not a mollusk. 



That is good reasoning, surely; but let us see 

 the shell. 



Is it not a Black Turban? 



Yes; but the mollusk that made the shell is 

 dead, and a stranger has taken his place. 



What is the name of the stranger, please? 



It is the Hermit Crab, so called because he lives 

 all alone in a little cell. The cell is anything he 

 can find which fits his body, but usually he se- 

 lects an empty shell. 



This crab does not have hard plates all over 



