THE SHORES OF BRITAIN. 85 



body with water, dilating all the parts to a size much 

 exceeding that of the old shel-1, which the new sldn, 

 yet soft and flexible, readily permits. It is necessary 

 that this inflation of the body should take place when 

 newly freed, because the skin immediately begins to 

 grow rigid, by lime being deposited in its substance 

 secreted within the body, and rapidly takes the 

 texture and consistence of the shell just rejected. 

 The appetite now returns, and abundance of food soon 

 restores the enlarged animal to its wonted vigour. 



The Crabs, of which there are many species, have 

 the shield of the chest very large and flat, and usually 

 wider than long : the plates of the belly are small, 

 and folded under the body out of sight. The great 

 pincers or claws have considerable muscular power, 

 and are covered, especially at the extremities, with a 

 shell of almost stony hardness. The Crab wields 

 these formidable weapons with much dexterity, and 

 if he obtains a grasp, holds his opponent with perse- 

 vering tenacity, so that he is not to be despised in 

 single combat. Mr. jNIudie tells an amusing anec- 

 dote illustrative of this habit. " We remember," 

 says he, " an instance in which, but for timely assist- 

 ance, the corporation of a royal borough would have 

 been dej)rived of its head, through the retentive 

 clutching of a Crab. The borough alluded to is 

 situated on a rocky part of the coast, where shell-fish 

 are so very abundant that they are hardly regarded 

 for any other purpose than as bait for the white 

 fishery. The official personage was a man of leisure ; 

 and one favourite way of filling up that leisure was 

 the capture of Crabs, which, after much care, he had 



