74 THE FIDDLER-CRAB. 



scale his prison walls. The modus operandi was 

 speedily made apparent; yet I feel certain that, un- 

 less one had watched as I did, the struggles of this 

 little fellow, the determination and perseverance he 

 exhibited would be incredible. 



After examining his movements for an hour, I 

 found, by dint of standing on the points of his toes, 

 poised on a segment of weed, that he managed to 

 touch the brim of the glass. Having got thus far, 

 he next gradually drew himself up, and sat upon the 

 edge of the vessel. In this position he would rest 

 as seemingly content as a bird on a bush, or a school- 

 boy on a gate. 



My curiosity satisfied, the C. mcenas was again 

 placed in the vase, and every means of escape re- 

 moved. 



Here let me mention that I still had a Fiddler- 

 Crab in my large tank, who had formerly lived in 

 companionship with the shore-crab above mentioned. 

 With 'the fiddler' I had no fault to find; he was 

 always modest and gentle, and gave no offence what- 

 ever to my Blennies. He never attempted to em- 

 brace them, nor to usurp their lawful place at the 

 table, nor even to appropriate their meals. On the 

 contrary, he always crept under a stone, and closely 

 watched the process of eating until the coast was 

 clear, when he would scuttle out, and feed, Lazarus- 

 like, upon any crumbs that might be scattered around. 



Although so modest and retiring, I soon discovered 



