68 THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. 



kept in the same vase, they exhibit a true exempli- 

 fication of the wolf and the lamb. This, much to 

 my chagrin, was frequently made evident to me, 

 but more particularly so on one occasion, when I 

 was, from certain circumstances, compelled to place 

 a specimen of each in unhappy companionship. Here 

 is a brief account of how they behaved to each other : 

 The poor little lamb (G. pagurus) was kept in a 

 constant state of alarm by the attacks of her fellow- 

 prisoner (C. mcenas) from the first moment that I 

 dropped her in the tank. If I gave her any food, 

 and did not watch hard by until it was consumed, 

 the whole meal would to a certainty be snatched 

 away. Not content with his booty, the crabbie 

 rascal of the shore would inflict a severe chastise- 

 ment upon his rival in my favour, and not unfre- 

 quently attempt to wrench off an arm or a leg out 

 of sheer wantonness. To end such a deplorable state 

 of matters, I very unceremoniously took up wolf, 

 and lopped off one of his large claws, and also one of 

 his hind legs. By this means I stopped his rapid 

 movements to and fro, and, moreover, deprived him 

 somewhat of his power to grasp an object forcibly. 

 In spite of his mutilations, he still exhibited the 

 same antipathy to his companion, and, as far as pos- 

 sible, made her feel the weight of his jealous ire. 

 Retributive justice, however, was hanging over his 

 crustaceous head. The period arrived when nature 

 compelled him to change his coat. In due time the 



