A CRUSTACEOUS PERFORMER. 73 



when I saw the 'tumler' minus its crustaceous oc- 

 cupant. The first thought that occurred to me was 

 as to where the crab could be found. Under chairs, 

 sofa, and fender, behind book-case, cabinet, and 

 piano, in every crevice, hole, and corner, for at least 

 an hour did I hunt without success. Eventually 

 the hiding-place of the fugitive was discovered in the 

 following singular manner: As I sat at my desk, I 

 was startled by a mysterious noise which apparently 

 proceeded from the interior of my ' Broadwood/ 

 which, by-the-by, I verily believe knows something 

 about the early editions of ' The battle of Prague/ 

 The strings of this venerable instrument descend 

 into ill-disguised cupboards, so that at the lower 

 part there are two doors, or, in scientific language, 

 ' valves/ On opening one of these, what should 

 I see but the poor crab, who, at my approach, 

 ' did' a kind of scamper polka over the strings. 

 This performance I took the liberty of cutting short 

 with all possible speed. On dragging away the per- 

 former, I found that Ins appearance was by no means 

 improved since I saw him last. Instead of being 

 ornamented with gracefully-bending polypes, he was 

 coated, body and legs, with dust and cobwebs. I 

 determined to try the effect of a bath, and presently 

 had the satisfaction of seeing him regain his usual 

 comely appearance. The next step was to replace 

 him in his old abode ; and having done so, I felt 

 anxious to know how the creature had managed to 



