A LITTLE PRODIGAL. 75 



that this little crab possessed an ambitious and rov- 

 ing disposition. This made him wish to step into 

 the world without, and proceed on a voyage of dis- 

 covery to start, indeed, on his own account, and be 

 independent of my hospitality, or the dubious bounty 

 of his finny companions. Taking advantage on 

 one occasion of a piece of sandstone that rested on 

 the side of the aquarium, he climbed up its slanting 

 side, from thence he stepped on to the top of the 

 vessel, and so dropped down outside upon the room 

 floor. For nearly two days I missed his familiar face, 

 but had no conception that he had escaped, or that 

 he wished to escape from his crystal abode. It was 

 by mere accident that I discovered the fact. 



Entering my study, after a walk on a wet day, 

 umbrella in hand, I thoughtlessly placed this useful 

 article against a chair. A little pool of water im- 

 mediately formed upon the carpet, which I had no 

 sooner noticed, than I got up to remove the parapluie 

 to its proper place in the stand, but started back in 

 surprise, for in the little pool stood the fugitive fiddler 

 moistening his branchiae. 



Taking up the little prodigal who had left my pro- 

 tection so lately, I soon deposited him in a vase of 

 clear salt water. After a while, thinking it might 

 conduce to the happiness of both parties, I placed 

 him in companionship with his old friend, Carcinus 

 f moenas. This, like many other philanthropic pro- 

 jects, proved a complete failure. Both creatures, 



